In recent years writing has lost its charm among youths, especially teens. Youths have given up on the pen and have turned to rely on mobile and computers to communicate. Thus, it is our duty to pass on the written word to our children before it is lost. There is a special meaning to traditional literacy skills that will always have a place in our hearts. Thus, we can try to preserve some of these by passing it on to our children. One such way to sensually and intellectually stimulate their minds and have a fulfilling experience is by writing poetry. Children don’t have to know Shakespeare or other admired fanciful authors to appreciate the depth and beauty poetry could bring. By introducing poetry to them at a young age, it teaches them a deeper understanding of the language. Also, they will be able to understand the joy of learning and writing different kinds of poetry. Some great authors of poems for kids are Shel Silverstein, Gwendolyn Brooks, Walter de la Mare, A.A. Milne, Valerie Bloom, Robert Louis Stevenson and Roald Dahl.
The best types of poems for kids are often stimulating, humorous, and fun! Expand their world with great poetry.
Nursery Rhymes
Children often learn these in preschool or in school! They are a great way to teach the English language and a very fun one too! Some even learn it before they are even able to speak and talk properly. Famous ones are “Jack and Jill” and “Humpty Dumpty” due to the humorous nature of the story. Others such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “London Bridge is Falling Down” have very catchy musical tunes that will stick with them throughout their lives. I’m sure even as an adult now you can remember these as they are very memorable. Now, it’s time for you to pass it on to your children. Poems for kids are extremely suitable and fun for this purpose!
Haiku
What is Haiku? Is that even an English word? The haiku or hokku as some would call it comes from the Japanese. It is an ancient form of poetry that has captivated many in its simplistic nature throughout the world. Here are what makes a haiku a haiku. Haikus consists of just three lines (tercet)! The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables and the third line has another five syllables. Unlike some poetry, haikus don’t have to rhyme at all, they are usually written to capture the mood or an event that the author is trying to evoke. Despite its simplicity, you can be very creative with how you form it. Children are able to learn this form of poetry as it’s very simple yet could be deep and meaningful. Kids poetry can turn out to be incredible and give you insight into their point of view.
Limerick
Another favorite type of kid poems that children love, is the limerick! It rhymes like nursery rhymes but is usually silly in nature. It’s a distinct theme attempt to depict a silly or funny situation that usually makes children giggle. Limericks can be funny and sometimes rude, it was made popular by Edward Lear in the 19th century. They have a set rhyme scheme of A/A/B/B/A, with lines one, two, and five usually all being longer in length than lines three and four. Typically the first 2 and last lines contain seven to ten syllables while lines 3 and 4 contain five to seven. The last line is often the punchline that will have children rolling in laughter.
Acrostic
This is another type of poem that children love. They are likely to learn this at school and try their hand at it. So why not give them a head start and teach them now? Acrostic poems spell out a name, word, phrase, or message with the first letter of every line in the poem. Usually, the poem will have a theme or meaning related to the word spelled out. Readers will be amazed and amused when reading it and realizing that the acrostic poems spells out a word. The poem can rhyme or not, so it doesn’t really matter. Teach your children to write an acrostic poem with a silly word and let their creative juices flow!
Other Forms of Poetry:
There are many other forms of poetry such as Free verse, Sonnet, Villanelle, Ode, Elegy, and Ballad.
They are quite complex and not really suitable for children. Hence I won’t go over them but I do hope you will share the types of poetry above with your children and encourage them on no matter what they write. Children often have many ideas, schemes, and jokes that they want to share with you. A little encouragement goes a long way! Writing creative poetry is a great way for them to express their creativity and share their joy with you. There are a few ways you can help your child get in the flow. As Joseph Pearce says in The Magical Child, “The child can never learn to play without the parent playing with the child. Remember that your role is to have always had fun and encourage your child’s imagination. Even if they misspell a word or two, remember that it’s far more important to encourage the communication of ideas than to correct them for the sake of it.
Make it a game and reward them for coming up with creative ideas and poems. When they try and accomplish something, always reward them with something to encourage the behavior. Eventually, they will get better and better and soon you would marvel at their growth. Teaching poetry to kids isn’t difficult and can be a great growth factor in their early childhood development. Just learning the basics will put them ahead in life.
Here are some great poetry books to get for your kids to teach them poems:
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein
Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection
Zen Poems of China and Japan: The Crane’s Bill
I hope you have fun teaching and creating lovely different types of poems for kids! 
