When should I read poems to my children?

Apart from the typical Christmas poems or a little table blessing before meals, poems are read aloud fairly rarely in most families. It's a pity really – because poems are not only small linguistic treasures, they also train 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. That 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 exist 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 inside.

There are five little rooms in it,

just like in a house.

In each little room live

two little seeds, black and fine.

They lie in there and dream

of the lovely sunshine.

They dream on and on

even a lovely 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 have been 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 still listen attentively when their parents read or recite them.

ATip:Most of the time it's easier to recite a poem from memory – that way you can better concentrate on the rhymes and the emphasis.

September Morning

In the mist the world still rests, the woods and meadows still dream: soon you'll see how the veil falls, the blue sky unobstructed, the muted world flowing in warm gold with autumnal strength. - Eduard Mörike

Autumn Day

Lord, it is time. Summer was very great. Lay your shadow upon the sundials and upon 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 any more. Whoever is alone now will remain so for a long time, will read, watch, write long letters and will restlessly wander back and forth in the avenues when the leaves drift. - Rainer Maria Rilke

How can I learn poems by heart with children?

Whether your child is supposed to memorize an autumn poem for school or you simply want to recite a nice poem together – usually your child will learn the rhymes faster than you. Most children have an amazingly good memory and once they have understood the rhymes, it only takes a few tries until they can recite the poem along.

The Leaves Fall

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 go out of our burrow. We want to search for tasty fruits – also under oaks, plums, beeches. We'll load our spines full with pears, apples, grapes! Autumn is beautiful, autumn is great – one can hardly believe it.” - Karossa Romelskin