Rhyme Time: Building Bonds Through Poetry

Looking for a fun way to bring more creativity into your child’s day? Poetry is a playful, powerful way to make reading and writing feel exciting and new! Whether you're reading silly rhymes at bedtime or crafting your own mini masterpieces, poems can spark big imagination in little learners. During National Poetry Month, dive into the world of words with ideas, activities, and inspiration to help your family celebrate all things poetry!

Every child has a unique way of seeing the world—and poetry is a beautiful way to capture it. Whether it’s a few playful rhymes or a heartfelt observation, kids are natural poets, and with a little encouragement, their words can truly shine. Are you ready to explore the magic of poetry together? Find simple, fun ideas to help you get started reading and creating poems with your child. 

Kids can explore found poetry by taking words and phrases from the world around them to make their own poems. It’s like creating a poem out of a word puzzle—great for sparking creativity and expressing big ideas with everyday words. Let the fun begin!

It’s rhyme time! Rhyming books are not only fun; they also help kids with language skills like memorization, rhythm, and phonics. Explore this curated list of 27 beloved rhyming books for kids!

Poetry with PBS KIDS

In the "Arthur" episode "Fernlets by Fern", Muffy convinces Fern to write poems for a new line of greeting cards, which becomes a hit, but Fern burns out from the booming business and struggles to regain her passion for writing.

In an animated reading of Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "Foreign Lands", Andy from "Let's Go Luna!" takes us on a dreamy trip powered by imagination. This sweet adventure shows how kids can turn trees into ships and backyards into faraway places—no passport needed! With gentle rhymes and vibrant animation, it’s a wonderful way to spark curiosity and creativity in young minds.

In a clip from "Sesame Street", "F is for Friendship", Elmo joins poet Amanda Gorman for an inspiring lesson on both friendship and poetry. Amanda guides Elmo through the process of writing a poem, from finding an idea to bringing it to life with words, while also teaching him how kindness and support are at the heart of true friendship. 

Now it's your turn—grab a pen, let your imagination run wild, and watch your own poems come to life!

For more playful learning ideas, visit PBS KIDS for Parents.