I'm sitting in the circle holding a present for the grab bag, waiting for the music to go back on to begin passing to my right again. The music begins and everyone begins frantically passing around presents. We're eager to see what present we will call ours. The music goes off for the last time and we are directed to open the present that has made its way to us. A paperback book stares up at me: The pictures in this book are beautiful and I quickly realize it's a book of poems.
Everyone's holding up their presents showing each other what they have while others point and exclaim, "That one was from me!" I get some glances at mine and when asked what I got and share it's a book of poetry, I hear "Ok!" while they go back to ther people's gifts. No one claimed it was from them. When I got home that evening and showed my mom my beautiful new book of poems, she laughed and said, "I bought that for the grab bag!"
I loved this book of poems and couldn't help but feel lucky it ended up in my hands, not quite sure it would have been appreciated as much by others. (And also left wondering how I went into this having no idea what was under the wrapped paper.)
It inspired me to begin writing my own poems. With poetry, I began to discover my voice... in writing. It gave me a creative outlet and allowed me to get words on the page. I wrote about anything and experimented with various kinds of poetry. There really was no 'right' or 'wrong' way to write poetry, which I loved. It was personal, it could be universal, it could have multiple meanings to different people. I even wrote about pictures I photographed in high school, one of which ended up getting published!
Fast forward years later, when I taught 1st and 2nd graders, teaching poetry was one of my absolute favorite things. The creativity was pouring out of these kids and for any struggling writers or students feeling like they 'were bad at writing', the confidence developed through writing their own poems was palpable.
My kids and I love reading and discovering new books together. Some of our favorite authors/poets include Julia Donaldson, Alice Schertle, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, and Jon Scieszka.
The Benefits of Poetry:
There are many benefits of engaging with poetry. It fosters creativity, promotes empathy, and can have positive effects on mental health and well-being.
Reading is so important for kids and getting them to see, hear, work with words to build reading, language, and speaking skills, are all ways poetry can also benefit children. Below are other ways children's skills can be improved through poetry!
- Speaking Skills: Oral Expression, Pronunciation and Diction, Rhythm and Cadence
- Brain Development: Memory Enhancement, Creativity and Imagination, Emotional Intelligence
- Language Skills: Vocabulary Expansion, Literary Devices, Cultural Awareness
Where to Publish Your Own Poetry:
- Here are some safe and reputable resources where kids can publish their poetry:
- Stone Soup: Stone Soup is a literary magazine by and for young writers and artists. They accept submissions of poetry, stories, and artwork from children ages 13 and younger. Selected submissions are featured in their print and online publications.
- The Claremont Review: The Claremont Review is an international magazine for young writers aged 13 to 19. They accept submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays. Selected works are published in their print magazine and on their website.
- Skipping Stones: Skipping Stones is a multicultural magazine that publishes writing and artwork by children and teens. They accept submissions of poetry, stories, and artwork from young people worldwide. Selected submissions are featured in their magazine and on their website.
- Teen Ink: Teen Ink is a magazine, website, and book series featuring writing and artwork by teens. They accept submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and artwork from teens aged 13 and older. Selected works are published in their magazine and on their website.
- Young Poets Network (YPN): Young Poets Network is a platform run by the Poetry Society in the UK. They feature writing opportunities, challenges, and showcases for young poets worldwide. They also publish selected poems on their website and in their annual print anthology.
- Before submitting to any publication, it's important to review their submission guidelines to ensure that the work meets their criteria and that the publication is appropriate for the child's age group. Additionally, parents or guardians should oversee the submission process to ensure online safety and privacy.
Writing Your Own Poetry:
Here are some Free Poetry Templates for haikus, biography poems, cinquains, and diamantes to have your child try writing some of his/her own poetry. There's even a topic chart to brainstorm topics for all letters of the alphabet.
Enjoy celebrating National Poetry Month and hope you explore new poetry, try writing your own, or share your love for poetry with others!
