The average adult may not find poetry to be a significant part of his or her life, but it has proven itself to be a great medium that benefits children greatly. Reading childrens poems is an excellent way to develop certain life skills, such as learning rhythm, recognizing rhymes, and being able to tell apart different pitches. It is also a good way to get children to read, write, and sing.
The first known children's poems were probably better known as nursery rhymes. Early nursery rhymes were originally intended to help children fall sleep, and hence, were called lullabies. They came about in the early to mid 1700's and have always been a good way to keep children occupied.
Over the years, nursery rhymes developed more distinct melodic lines as well as references to historical events. "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" was a reference to the slave trade and the wool tax in Britain in 1744. "London Bridge is Falling Down" was a reference to the Vikings' conquest. And "Ring Around the Rosie" was a dreadful euphemism for the Bubonic Plague of 1790. Little nursery rhymes such as these were easy to memorize and sing because they were short, rhymed, and had simple melodies.
Children learn rapidly though repetition and speech. They also develop language skills by speaking, listening, reading, and even singing. Kids who have a lot of exposure to reading and speaking usually have better language comprehension skills and higher rates of cognitive development by age 3. Many of these life skills can be improved by poetry.
Take the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie", for example. There are four lines, all of which rhyme, all with syllables that fit into the rhythm of the song. It is a very simple yet effective way to teach a child a few words, basic rhythm, and singing without completely boring the child. As mentioned above, children who are exposed to poetry and/or nursery rhymes at an early age are thought to show greater aptitude in music, reading, and even spatial reasoning.
The fact that children enjoy this poetry is what makes this system work so well. Children's short attention spans are taken into account, resulting in shorter works. Added humorous pictures also provide much needed visual stimulation. A child would most likely be very bored if asked to sit through the reading of an entire novel, without any form of music, singing, or visual interpretations. Poetry does a great job at keeping children entertained while providing a means to improving cognitive development. The poetry of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein are excellent works that can do such a thing for children. A child would easily find a short poem with pictures and rhymes to be much more entertaining than a novel full of dry prose.
Poems can therefore be seen as a gateway to a great education. A child who loves poems and nursery rhymes would be highly likely to begin reading novels and longer works. Such hobbies could potentially lead to excellent writing, exceptional vocabulary, and good conversational skills.
But aside from academics, reading poetry has personal benefits as well. It keeps children entertained and it promotes the use of their imagination. Studies show that imagination and creativity keep children away from academic and social delinquency. Also, a creative mind would help in adolescence and adulthood by exploring unconventional solutions to life's problems.
Reading childrens poems is so unassuming that one might be taken aback by how good it is for the child. Nursery rhymes and poems from the 1700's still exist today for a reason. Reading poetry every night before bedtime is a great thing a parent can do for the future of his or her child.
The first known children's poems were probably better known as nursery rhymes. Early nursery rhymes were originally intended to help children fall sleep, and hence, were called lullabies. They came about in the early to mid 1700's and have always been a good way to keep children occupied.
Over the years, nursery rhymes developed more distinct melodic lines as well as references to historical events. "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" was a reference to the slave trade and the wool tax in Britain in 1744. "London Bridge is Falling Down" was a reference to the Vikings' conquest. And "Ring Around the Rosie" was a dreadful euphemism for the Bubonic Plague of 1790. Little nursery rhymes such as these were easy to memorize and sing because they were short, rhymed, and had simple melodies.
Children learn rapidly though repetition and speech. They also develop language skills by speaking, listening, reading, and even singing. Kids who have a lot of exposure to reading and speaking usually have better language comprehension skills and higher rates of cognitive development by age 3. Many of these life skills can be improved by poetry.
Take the nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie", for example. There are four lines, all of which rhyme, all with syllables that fit into the rhythm of the song. It is a very simple yet effective way to teach a child a few words, basic rhythm, and singing without completely boring the child. As mentioned above, children who are exposed to poetry and/or nursery rhymes at an early age are thought to show greater aptitude in music, reading, and even spatial reasoning.
The fact that children enjoy this poetry is what makes this system work so well. Children's short attention spans are taken into account, resulting in shorter works. Added humorous pictures also provide much needed visual stimulation. A child would most likely be very bored if asked to sit through the reading of an entire novel, without any form of music, singing, or visual interpretations. Poetry does a great job at keeping children entertained while providing a means to improving cognitive development. The poetry of Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein are excellent works that can do such a thing for children. A child would easily find a short poem with pictures and rhymes to be much more entertaining than a novel full of dry prose.
Poems can therefore be seen as a gateway to a great education. A child who loves poems and nursery rhymes would be highly likely to begin reading novels and longer works. Such hobbies could potentially lead to excellent writing, exceptional vocabulary, and good conversational skills.
But aside from academics, reading poetry has personal benefits as well. It keeps children entertained and it promotes the use of their imagination. Studies show that imagination and creativity keep children away from academic and social delinquency. Also, a creative mind would help in adolescence and adulthood by exploring unconventional solutions to life's problems.
Reading childrens poems is so unassuming that one might be taken aback by how good it is for the child. Nursery rhymes and poems from the 1700's still exist today for a reason. Reading poetry every night before bedtime is a great thing a parent can do for the future of his or her child.
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