Types of Poems for Kids

A poetry composed for kids usually follows a rhythm, the lines rhyme with each other and they are easily understood by them. However, if they know the types of poems they are learning then it shall help them learn quickly and get a better insight at the tender age.

Different Types of Poems for Kids

Kids' poems although might sound similar, are a lot different from one another. Finding out the difference becomes easy when they understand the variation clearly.

Alphabet (ABC)
Each line in the poetry begins with subsequent letters of alphabets. The poetry need not be rhythmic rather the flow of alphabet is given more importance.

Example

A young girl was walking in the rain.
But her umbrella didn't open.
Couldn't run, couldn't hurry,
Dressed in new shoes,
Entered a house full of chocolates.
Found all her friends enjoying them.

Ballad
Ballad is a popular type of children's poem which is rhythmic. The poetry retells a historical event or one can also pen down personal experiences in the form of rhyme.

Example

Little Daddy Longlegs played in the sun,
Climbing up the front steps just for fun.
from Turtle Trouble
Tell me if you think you know
How to make a turtle go.
from Tomorrow's My Birthday
Tomorrow's my birthday and I'll be four
And I won't have to stay home anymore.
from Nature's Shows
Nature puts on little shows
Every time it rains or snows.
from It's Snow Wonder
It's snow wonder that we cheer
Snowflakes when they fall each year ~ Charles Ghigna

Acrostic
This is a typical form of poetry where the first letter of each line form a word itself. The letters are vertically aligned to form a word, which might be the subject of the poem.

Example

Crisp and colorful
Adorable and crunchy
Nice and tasty
Delicious and tempting
Yummy and best

Autobiographical
It's actually an essay about oneself written in the form of a poetry. Your kid can easily pen down an autobiographical poetry by writing about himself in rhythms.

Example

I'm a Jilly Joe
I love to sail and row
I love flying kites
only to end up with fights
My friends hate me
For I'm a wannabe
I love myself
For I'm Jilly Joe

Cinquain
Cinquains are composed of 5 lines. Each successive line has more words than the previous one. The last line again has fewer words, generally re-establishing the concept given by the first line. The first line is a noun or subject of the poem. The lines that follow describe it. Here's an example of the American cinquain, a form developed by Adelaide Crapsey.

Example

Listen...
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees
And fall. ~ from 'November Night' by Adelaide Crapsey

Diamante
This is interesting. A diamante is a diamond shaped poem and it has nothing to do with the content. The following example shall make your concept clear.

Example

'Happy Birthday'
Birthday
Joy, Surprises
Cake, Candles, Balloons, Cards
Party, Laughter, Hugs & Kisses
Sharing, Gifts, Special, Wishes
Special Day,
What Fun! ~ Dr. Maisie M


Rhyming
Rhyming is a kind of poetry having a rhythmic pattern and flowing in the form of couplets, triplets and quatrains. The examples are cited below.

Example

'Couplets'
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are!

'Triplets'
I love my red balloon,
I want it to reach the moon,
To my grandpa very soon. ~ Dr. Maisie M

Color Poems
In this type of poem, you choose a color and relate that color to different types of events and characters.

Example

White is the milk
As tasty as could be.
White are the clouds
Like cotton balls in the sky.
So is the light white
That brightens my day. ~ Dr. Maisie M

Haiku
It's a kind of poem that evolved in Japan and is based mainly on nature. The poetry usually has three lines, wherein the first line contains 3 syllables, the second line 7 and the third line 5. Here's the example of a Haiku poem.

Example

Sick on a journey-
Over parched fields
Dreams wander on. ~ Basho.

Imagery
In this genre, the poet puts forth his/her imagination in the form of a poem. Kids find it amusing because they can pen down their imaginary thoughts randomly. Have a look.

Example

I'm the fairy of my garden
My white wings and golden crown
make me charming.
I can weave magic
with my magic wand.
I'm the fairy of my garden.

Limerick
It's a poetry of 5 lines. The last word of the first, second and the fifth line rhyme, and the last word of third and fourth line rhyme. This way the poetry goes.

Example

There was an Old Man with a flute,
A sarpint ran into his boot;
But he played day and night,
Till the sarpint took flight,
And avoided that man with a flute ~ Edward Lear

Question Poetry
As the name suggests, in this type of poetry several questions are asked to a person or an object. It can be a free verse (without rhyme) or rhyme. Have a look.

Example

Tree
Oh, Tree!
Why are you so sad?
Why aren't you glad?
Did someone hurt you?

Oh, child!
I am sad because my family
has been cut down.
Nobody has hurt me yet!! ~ Shania

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