If you’ve ever wondered how to write poems for kids, then I have some serious, sage advice…don’t be so serious and sage.

Through all my years as a children’s writer, singer songwriter, and even illustrator I’ve observed kids and their funny ways. And because they have funny ways, I look for ways to put those funny ways into the rhymes I write. Poems for kids should be fun, funny, and full of imagination. Imagination filled with color, action, and rhythm. Word pictures should leap into those growing little minds. And I’m of the firm belief that poems for kids should help them have faith, hope, and love…with a smile.

Now, some writers prefer to go the route of realism…in other words…reflect the culture, in all its raw grit, in their poems and stories. I couldn’t disagree more. The way I see it…kids get enough reality in the real world. Just watching five minutes of a news program they can see how unsafe this world is. They don’t need to dive into a poem, or story, or ebook and find it there, too.

Is this providing “an escape”? You bet it is. Give a kid optimism about faith, hope, and love. The media they consume should nurture those feelings and show them the good guy wins…and dark days don’t last forever. Happy endings should abound.

There’s this incredible book…maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s called The Bible. It’s the best-selling book of all time. It’s a history book of the world, so there’s a lot of hard reality. But a big, big portion of it uses the technique I’ve laid out. It shows you how dark days won’t last forever, the good guy wins, and many people will love the happy ending.

No Other Person

Once upon a time you were one little cell
Living in your mom where you formed so well.
Then you were born and everyone knew
There was no other person who was quite like you.
You got bigger and you wondered why
A fish could swim and a bird could fly.
Every little thing was a fun, little game.
A dog was a friend, and you gave it a name.
A little more time, and you learned to read.
Each word was a friend that planted a seed
That formed an idea in your curious mind.
Then your need for knowledge left the kid behind.
That was well and good, and it had to be.
There was so much more in the world to see.
But please remember and don’t forget…
There are things in life that you might regret.
Don’t let love ever take a back seat.
Be willing to share it with whomever you meet.
Then, people might say, when you’re life is through…
There was no other person who was quite like you.

© 2013

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