When should I read poems to my children?
Apart from the typical Christmas poems or a small table blessing before a meal, poems are recited rather rarely in most families. That's a pity — because poems are not only little linguistic treasures, they also exercise concentration, memory and promote children's language comprehension. But when is the right time for a poem?
A good idea is to replace or supplement your usual reading time with poems. This can be in the afternoon on the sofa, in the evening before falling asleep or on Sunday morning in the parents' bed. Read alternately a book and a poem — or specifically look for rhymed books.
Many well-known poems are available as illustrated children's books, e.g. "Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland", or they have been set to music as children's songs. "Spannenlanger Hansel, nudeldicke Dirn", for example, or "In einem kleinen Apfel" are song lyrics that also deal with autumn:
In a little apple
In a little apple,
it looks cute in there.
There are five little rooms inside,
just like in a house.
In each little room live
Two little seeds, black and fine.
They lie inside and dream
of the lovely sunshine.
They keep on dreaming
even a beautiful dream,
how they will one day hang
on the beautiful Christmas tree
Autumn poems – the most beautiful classic poems for children
Many well-known poets were inspired by autumn, the harvest and the special mood of farewell at the end of summer to write poems. And even if children today may not understand every single word of these classic poems, most listen attentively when their parents read or recite them.
ATip:Usually it's easier to recite a poem from memory – that way you can focus better on the rhymes and the intonation.
September Morning
In the mist the world still rests, forests and meadows still dream: Soon you'll see how the veil falls, the blue sky unobscured, the subdued world flowing autumn-strong in warm gold. - Eduard Mörike
Autumn Day
Lord, it is time. The summer was very great. Lay your shadow on the sundials and on the fields let loose the winds. Command the last fruits to be full. Give them two more southerly days, urge them toward completion and drive the last sweetness into the heavy wine. Whoever has no house now will not build one anymore. Whoever is alone now will remain so for a long time, will read, keep watch, write long letters and will wander restlessly up and down the avenues when the leaves are drifting. - Rainer Maria Rilke
How can I help children memorize poems?
Whether your child has to memorize an autumn poem for school or you simply want to recite a nice poem together – as a rule your child will learn the rhymes faster than you. Most children have an astonishingly good memory, and once they understand the rhymes, it takes only a few attempts until they can recite the poem along.
The leaves are falling
The leaves fall, the fruit does too. Only the berries still shine on the bush. The thistles prick, the hedgehogs squeak, the autumn wind sings, the morel stinks. The hedgehog said to his wife: "Today we'll go out of our burrow. We want to look for tasty fruits — also under oaks, plums, beeches. We'll fill our quills with pears, apples, grapes! Autumn is beautiful, autumn is great — you can hardly believe it." - Karossa Romelskin
