Tips to Get Children into Poetry
Do you remember the first time you fell in love with poetry? For many people, it’s a life-changing experience. Poetry can transport us to new worlds, and introduce us to unforgettable characters. It can make us laugh and cry, and teach us about ourselves and the world around us. If you want your children to experience all of these things, then you need to get them into poetry…but how?
Have Poetry Available
Like anything, kids are more likely to get into poetry if it’s easily accessible. So, make sure you have plenty of poetry books around the house. Put them in your child’s bedroom, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the living room…wherever. If you don’t have any poetry books, no worries. There are plenty of poems available online, and you can even find some great apps with collections of poems for kids.
If you’re on a budget, why not head into a thrift store or check out the used books section of your local library? You can often find great poetry anthologies for next to nothing.
Read Before Bed
Children’s poetry is often short enough to be read in just a few minutes, which makes it perfect for bedtime reading. Therefore, make sure you include some poetry in your nightly reading routine. You can even take turns reading poems aloud to each other, and this will progress their reading too.
Don’t Worry About Understanding Every Word
Sadly, poetry is lost on many children because they feel they need to understand every word to enjoy it. This simply isn’t true. In fact, some of the best poems are those that can be read time and time again, with new meanings being gleaned each time. Encourage your child to read poems aloud, even if they don’t understand each word. Instead, they should look for themes and stories within the words.
Allow Them to Choose Books
Rather than forcing them to read certain poets or styles of poetry, let your child choose their own books. This way, they are more likely to find something they enjoy and will want to read again. The local library is a great place to start, as they will have a wide selection of poetry books available.
As they get older, you can start to introduce them to different poets and styles. However, it is important to let them choose what they want to read, as this will keep them interested in poetry. If
Encourage Them to Write Poetry
One way to get children interested in poetry is to encourage them to write their own. This can be done by providing them with a notebook and some basic supplies, such as pens and pencils. You can also give them some prompts to get them started, such as asking them to write a poem about their favorite animal.
Children have a unique perspective on life and you might just be surprised by what they produce. If you want to bond with them, take on the same challenge and read your poems to each other once you’re finished.
Read, Read, Read
The more children’s poetry you read to them, the more likely they are to find something they love. It’s also a great way to bond with your child and spend some quality time together. Start off with some of the classics, such as “The Cat in the Hat” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Then, branch out and explore some of the best children’s poets.