If you ever want to move your child out from the digital world and give them at least a part of your own personal childhood experience, check our list for 9 classic poems for children to memorize.
The latest generation is stuck in this endless circle of computer science and technology from an early age. They are not aware that they’re missing one of the most important parts of their lives. I’m not going to place all the blame on parents – because we are well intentioned – but our efforts to provide all the ‘stuff’ we didn’t have as children may be hindering their social, emotional and intellectual development.
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Yes, technology is bad in big doses. Yes, take it away. But we can not isolate our kids from the outside world in order to protect them.
Decades ago, it seemed rearing a child was easier. There wasn’t so much stuff to do back then. You came home from work, had a snack, went out unattended to play with the neighborhood kids, came home to do your homework and eat dinner, take a bath, and then sleep. But things have changed. The routine has more stuff to it; after school clubs and sports, reading before sleeping, healthier dinners, never playing alone, etc.
I never read poems as a kid. Maybe that’s why I’m so flawed. I always attributed the idea of a children’s poem to a pansy sissy white kid who never had a care in the world. What I’m seeing now is teachers trying to capture what worked decades ago because kids are too addicted to technology to think for themselves. Enter, the classic children’s poem. But, before we move on to our list, don’t miss our 10 Best Youtube Children’s Songs, as well.
Our list of 9 classic poems for children to memorize is initially based on the list of most popular classic poems on Poetry4Kids and Xmission.
9. To A Mouse – by Robert Burns
We are starting our list of classic poems for children to memorize with this poem that addresses a first-mouse’s view of life, but then delves deeper into the humanitarian in all of us and how we treat defenseless animals.
8. Daddy Fell into the Pond – by Alfred Noyes
Entertaining both adults and children this comical poem describes what fathers are capable of doing in order to get smiles on their kids’ faces.
The writer also tries to show to children that even after embarrassing situations, life moves on and they shouldn’t run away and hide. So we are happy to give it a place in our 9 classic poems for children to memorize.
Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond,
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone’s face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
‘Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He’s crawling out of the duckweed.’
Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And is sounded as if the old drake laughed.
O, there wasn’t a thing that didn’t respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
7. Who Has Seen the Wind? – by Christina Rossetti
This is a fun repetition song, next in line on our list of classic poems for children to memorize, which can be used as a language exercise. Simple and easy to remember words makes it much easier and entertaining for children to make a repetition game from it.
Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you. But when the leaves hang trembling, The wind is passing through. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I. But when the trees bow down their heads, The wind is passing by.
6. How Doth the Little Crocodile? – by Lewis Carrol
A well read child will recognize this from Lewis Carrol’s ”Alice in Wonderland”
The song number 6 on our list of classic poems for children to memorize describes crocodile’s good physical appearance and his nice manners and good behavior. But behind his good looks and manners is a face of a predator who just waits for fish to come to him.
- How doth the little crocodile
- Improve his shining tail
- And pour the waters of the Nile
- On every golden scale!
- How cheerfully he seems to grin
- How neatly spreads his claws
- And welcomes little fishes in
- With gently smiling jaws!
5. Two Little Kittens – by Unknown artist
A fun poem number 5 on our list of classic poems for children to memorize, about two little kittens who are fighting over one mouse. But after being thrown out into snow by their owner, they realize they suddenly need each other to survive.
It should teach children about teamwork and what they could lose if they’re selfish.
Two little kittens, one stormy night,
Begun to quarrel, and then to fight;
One had a mouse, the other had none,
And that’s the way the quarrel begun.
“I’ll have that mouse,” said the biggest cat;
“You’ll have that mouse? We’ll see about that!”
“I will have that mouse,” said the eldest son;
“You shan’t have the mouse,” said the little one.
I told you before ’twas a stormy night;
When these two little kittens began to fight;
The old woman seized her sweeping broom,
And swept the kittens right out of the room.
The ground was covered with frost and snow,
And the two little kittens had no where to go;
So they laid them down on the mat at the door,
While the old woman finished sweeping the floor.
Then they crept in, as quiet as mice,
All wet with snow, and cold as ice,
For they found it was better, that stormy night,
To lie down and sleep than to quarrel and fight.
4. Ned Nott and was shot – by Anonimous artist
This is a tongue twister and a language arts lesson unto itself.
Ned Nott was shot
And Sam Shott was not.
So it is better to be Shott than Nott.
Some say Nott was not shot.
But Shott says he shot Nott.
Either the shot Shott shot at Nott was not shot,
Or Nott was shot.
If the shot Shott shot shot Nott, Nott was shot.
But if the shot Shott shot shot Shott,
Then Shott was shot, not Nott.
However, the shot Shott shot shot not Shott —
but Nott.
3. The Owl and a Pussycat – by Edward Lear
A nonsense love song that ranked 3rd on our list of classic poems for children to memorize, about two animals of different species who decide to get married no matter their differences!
Language techniques such as theme, repetition and approximate and internal rhyme make it fun for children to listen to and remember. Perfect as a perfect repetition exercise.
2. Poor Old Lady – by Anonymous artist
A rhythmical story, next in line on our list of classic poems for children to memorize, about an old lady who, after accidentally swallowing a fly, starts swallowing one animal by one in order to catch the previously eaten one. Every part ends with the phrase ”Perhaps she’ll die”.
Kids think about how they approach solving a problem.
1. Eletelephony – by Laura Richards
This playful poem deserved the first place in our list of 9 classic poems for children to memorize because it shows us that poetry can be both fun and educational. The poem stimulates creativity and shows them how language can be flexible and adjusted to their wishes. It can also be used as a speech exercise because it proves how slippery language is because of the similarity of the words.
Once there was an elephant, Who tried to use the telephant— No! No! I mean an elephone Who tried to use the telephone— (Dear me! I am not certain quite That even now I’ve got it right.) Howe’er it was, he got his trunk Entangled in the telephunk; The more he tried to get it free, The louder buzzed the telephee— (I fear I’d better drop the song Of elephop and telephong!)
