The art of Public Speaking

Sun, 14 Mar, 2021

5 reasons why we should read poetry to our kids!

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Make Your Kids Understand the Importance of Poetry Reading

Every kid should develop the habit of reading poetry if they want to establish a firm grasp of a language. Kids are often engaged in English reading poetry in school. You can also take your kids to children's poetry reading sessions to make them interested in the beautiful art form.

Enroll at PlanetSpark classes today for the best poetry reading lessons!

How to Read a Poem Out Loud?

If you want to know how to read a poem, consider the tips given below:

  • Be careful about lines: Poetry reading revolves around dealing with lines. While reading a poem, you should be attentive to the end of each line. Use a slight pause after the end of each line, even though the lines don't end with punctuation. But you don't have to linger for a long time at the end of each line. Lingering too much at the end of a line gives the poem a limerick effect. A slight pause ensures that the poem's lines are well-connected with each other and the poem is recited at a rhythmic pace.

  • Be attentive towards sentences: The use of a poet's voice isn't always the best way of poetry reading. The poet's voice often encourages readers to end each sentence with a question. But it removes variety from a poem and also reduces emotional depth. You should pay attention to sentences to understand how they are punctuated. You need to understand the differences between the various punctuations to read a poem in the proper manner. Do not overlook punctuations if you want to convey the true meaning of sentences in a poem.

  • Don't rush while reading a poem: Poetry reading does not revolve around conveying information. The difference between poetry and a business report is emotional depth. While reading popular short poems for kids, you are telling a story and trying to evoke emotions. Honor the subtle language choices of the poet with your body language and facial expressions. Nervous readers tend to read fast so that they can get over it quickly. But you can make your audience understand the poem only by reading it slowly. Reading it slowly will ensure that each and every word in the poem is highlighted.

  • Know how to pronounce words: Poetry reading cannot be impressive if you don't know the right way to pronounce the words in the poem. You can write words phonetically to memorize how it is pronounced. You should read out every word in the poem in a calm and relaxed voice. You do not have to employ an artificial tone to convey the key emotions of the poem. If a poem is written in a conversational style, read it aloud in that style. Focus on speaking slowly and distinctly and let the beautiful words of the poem do the trick.  

  • Try to be a human: Children's poetry reading should be conducted while thinking that you are speaking to someone. While practicing poetry reading, consider that you are sharing the poem with someone. If you want to know how to read a poem aloud, you should remind yourself of standard public speaking practices. For instance, you should maintain eye contact with your audience and a confident posture. You can try memorizing the poem a little bit so that you don't have to keep looking at the material you are reading. Book a class today for poetry reading lessons!

Five Reasons to Read Poetry to Your Kids

The five reasons to read poetry to your kids are as follows:

  • Inculcate reading habits in kids: Parents often try finding ways to make their little readers pick up a book. While some kids are inclined towards reading from an early age, others don't develop the habit quickly. Short English poems for kids can help teach reading habits in a child. Since a poem is short in length, readers will find it a less tiring job. Despite being short, poems are packed with various literary elements. Poetry reading can go a long way in teaching a child about literary elements like rhyming words and alliteration.

  • Teach kids about sounds: Poetry reading helps teach various aspects related to sounds, such as volume, pitch and inflexion. Poetry reading gives kids an idea about speech patterns so that they get a clue about the words in a sentence. Famous poems for children ensure that kids learn how to identify word families. It also improves the ability of children to pronounce new words correctly. Poems often play with sound and rhyme, which can help kids develop a unique perspective on the concept of phonetics.

  • Develop your kid's vocabulary: If you want to build the vocabulary of your kids, poetry reading, like any other form of reading, is extremely beneficial. Reading poetry with your child will ensure that they come across new words. Popular short poems for kids often have several pairs of rhyming words in them. The poet writes a rhyming poem after following various restrictions in his choice of words. Therefore, a rhyming poem results in several connections between words. The relationships between phrases help develop kids' vocabulary to a considerable extent. Kids can add new words to their vocabulary, know what they mean, and learn about their synonyms and antonyms.

  • Aid creativity in a child: Poetry reading helps in encouraging creativity within a child. Children have great imagination power, and famous poems for kids can tap into that creativity. Poems can help kids find unexpected relationships between words, improving their writing and literary skills. The best part about poetry is that it's subjective. A poem can have a non-linear or narrative structure or simply be a collection of beautiful words. When your kid is learning to read, you can encourage them to express their thoughts through poetry for a fun and educational experience. The writing skills of your child might take you by surprise.

  • Practice reading aloud: Oral development is an essential skill required to promote literacy among kids. Poetry reading can aid oral development in children like any other form of reading. By reading out poems aloud, kids emphasize the way words are pronounced. Therefore, it helps in improving reading skills in kids. Poetry is fun, rhythmic, and expressive, making it even more enjoyable for kids. You can conduct a children's poetry reading session at home. Invite other kids and encourage them to read from the best poetry books for children. Join a trial class at PlanetSpark today!

FAQs

  • When is national poetry month for kids?

April is considered the national poetry month, and the true delight of poetry is celebrated throughout the thirty days of the month.

  • What are some famous poems for children?

Some famous poems for children include The Tiger by William Blake, The Fairies by William Allingham, and The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll. You can read out these poems to your children to make them develop the habit of poetry reading.

  • Where can I find the best poetry books for children?

You can find the best poetry books for children in a kid's library. You can also visit the school library of your kids to find the best poetry books. The internet is also a good place to find some of the best poetry books for children.

  • Is reading poetry with your child a good habit?

Reading poetry with your child is a great habit that every parent can develop. Reading poetry with elementary school kids can help you spend quality time with them. It will also ensure that you are teaching your kids healthy habits. It will prevent them from being on the phone or laptop during their free time.

  • How to be the best at reading poetry with kids?

You can be the best at reading poetry with kids by making it a fun activity. You can sing and dance while reciting a poem to make it more interesting for your kids. Read from the works of ten children's poets your kids should know about to make them familiar with the top poets.

  • Where can I find the best children's poetry archive?

You can find the best children's poetry archive on the internet. You can also check out the school website of your kids to find some short English poems for kids. A poetry archive will include classic children's poems that everyone should read.

  • What are some popular short poems for kids?

Some popular short poems for kids include "Mary had a little lamb" and "Twinkle twinkle little star." The benefit of short poems for kids is that they easily memorize and recite them with grace. You can experiment with rhyming or funny poems to grow your kids' interest in poetry reading. Book a demo class at PlanetSpark today!

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