Literacy in the LibraryTOOLS FOR INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LIFELONG READERS AND LEARNERS |
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Poetry with Young ChildrenApril/May 2008April is National Poetry Month and the perfect time to talk about why poetry is so great for your child. Poetry is made up of rhythm and rhyme – two great ways to make language fun and memorable. Babies become acquainted with language by listening to its rhyme and rhythm and young children subconsciously hear words being broken into parts, an important step in learning to read. In our library storytimes, especially in Book Babies, we use fingerplays and rhymes to teach children the rhythm and cadence of speech. These fun rhymes are repeated over and over by parents at home with baby in the high chair, on the changing table, and in the car. Here are some examples of simple rhymes with big impact that you can use every day: Give baby a hug, Rhyming is a key building block in helping your child with sound awareness, or phonological awareness. By hearing sounds that rhyme, children will begin to understand how longer words are built. Children who can understand these smaller word parts and rhymes will have an easier time learning to read. Poetry may sound like an intimidating concept to use with your child, but if you begin with something familiar and simple, like Mother Goose, you can practice with the language and the sounds of poetry. A lovely starter Mother Goose collection with colorful and fun animal illustrations is Here Comes Mother Goose, edited by Iona Opie, with illustrations by Rosemary Wells. There are many collections of short poetry geared towards toddler and pre-school age children. One favorite is Here's a Little Poem, edited by Jane Yolen, with illustrations by Polly Dunbar. This collection pairs bright and exuberant illustrations with really short poems that highlight the kinds of activities toddlers like and the kinds of jokes they understand. For example, here is a poem titled "Chicks" by Eric Finney: Yesterday This kind of collection is a good one to start with because there is only one poem on each page and you and your child can savor the words and pictures together. Another great collection of short and memorable poems is Pocket Poems, edited by Bobbi Katz, with illustrations by Marylin Hafner. The concept with these poems is that they are short enough to carry in your pocket so you can have a poem with you wherever you go. Remember, it is not necessary to recite a whole poem with your child; short rhymes like "One, two, buckle my shoe..." will help your child catch important pre-literacy skills. The sing-song sounds you make with your voice help attract even the littlest ones to what you are saying and help them understand that language is fun. Look for these poetry collections and others at your local library branch. Try a poem with your little one today and celebrate National Poetry Month with us! By Gwen Vanderhage, Librarian, Children's Library, The Denver Public Library |
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