The Preschooler

Rhyming Poetry

If you think back to your childhood days in elementary school, you probably can recall learning about poetry through the use of rhyming words. Although poetry certainly does not have to rhyme, this is probably the most common type of poetry that most beginners, including adults, would write if given the assignment to write a poem. Most poetry intended for children is written in this fashion, and it is a wonderful resource for parents and teachers who want to teach children about rhyming words.

Shel Silverstein is, by far, my favorite author of children’s poetry. His collections are full of funny, exotic, and wildly crazy poems, and children can easily relate to the topics he selects. Not all, but most of his poems are written with rhymes and can be a great example to which children can listen. After reading several of the poems (from his books or from any other sources), try creating a few funny two-line poems with your child by leaving out the last word. Create some with obvious answers and others that would have multiple answers. Here are a few examples to get you started.

• My swing was swinging up so high, I thought my feet would touch the _____.
• The baby cried so loud I fear, from my ears I cannot _____.
• I spilled my milk and mom was mad, but not nearly as mad as ______.
• My rubber ball bounced so far, it even bounced into a _____.

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Written by Laura on June 1, 2009