How to Introduce Boys to Poetry: A Fun, Step-by-Step Approach

By Amanda Schenkenberger

Poetry can be an incredible tool for self-expression, creativity, and even processing emotions. But how do you make poetry engaging—especially for boys who might think of it as too serious or intimidating? Amanda Schenkenberger shares her journey of getting her sons to love poetry, starting with fun and silly rhymes and gradually moving into writing their own verses.

If you want to cultivate a love of poetry in your children, this five-step process will help make the experience enjoyable, interactive, and memorable.

Step 1: Start with Dr. Seuss

Poetry doesn’t have to begin with sonnets or Shakespeare. If you’ve been reading Dr. Seuss to your kids, you’ve already laid the groundwork for a love of poetry! His books are full of rhyme, rhythm, and cadence, making them fun to read aloud.

A great place to start is Green Eggs and Ham, which engages children with its repetition and silly premise. Another favorite is Oh, Say Can You Say?, a book full of tongue twisters that challenge both kids and parents alike. These books introduce the joy of rhythm and sound in poetry while keeping things lighthearted.

Step 2: Introduce Funny and Gross Poetry

Once kids have a feel for playful rhyming, it’s time to level up with fun poets like Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. These authors write about wacky and sometimes gross topics—perfect for boys who enjoy humor with a bit of silliness.

Books like It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles and My Dog May Be a Genius by Jack Prelutsky have engaging, simple illustrations that make the poems even more fun. Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends is another classic, full of clever, sometimes bizarre stories in verse. One must-read poem? The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No—a hilarious tale about a turtle falling in love with a bagpipe.

Step 3: Write Poetry Together

After exposing kids to fun poetry, the next step is to write together. The key is to make writing a pressure-free experience—just an opportunity to have fun with words.

Here is a poem that I helped my son with recently. I helped him establish the meter of the sirst few lines and then he look over from there.

Megs

Captain Nemo was aboard his boat three days ago out on the calm sea.

Watching a gentle blue whale majestically swimming with glee

As he watched the bubbles rise, down came a sigh, loud and strong

Then, when his boat began to rock he knew that something was wrong

As the boat began to sway underneath, past something giant

Ominously the bell would clang, a shadow swam close defiant

And when the whale wailed it was attacked from beneath

Nemo looked like some strange ghost as he saw great giant teeth

As he became unpetrified, He then sailed his ship away

He came to port to tell his tale of the whales fate that sad day

There are many styles to explore:

Haikus: Short and simple, perfect for beginners.
Free verse: No constraints, allowing creativity to flow.
Ballads: Great for storytelling and a good precursor to structured writing assignments.

Writing poetry together fosters creativity and helps kids express their thoughts in an engaging way. The poem I shared above is an example of Ballad poetry.

Step 4: Share and Perform Poetry

Poetry comes alive when read aloud. Encourage your children to perform their poems in front of the family or record themselves reading them. This builds confidence and makes poetry a shared experience rather than just a solitary activity.

For extra fun, consider creating a mini family poetry night where everyone shares a favorite poem—either one they’ve written or a classic they enjoy.

Step 5: Keep It Fun and Relatable

The most important thing? Keep poetry lighthearted and engaging. Allow kids to write about things that interest them—even if that means silly or gross topics. As Amanda experienced with her sons, kids love to discuss offbeat things, so embrace it!

Whether it’s an eight-year-old discussing whether you can “eat a fart” or writing about adventurous sea creatures, poetry should feel like a playground for the imagination.

Summary: 5 Steps to Get Boys Excited About Poetry

Start with Dr. Seuss – His books introduce rhyme, rhythm, and cadence in a fun way.
Introduce funny and gross poetry – Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein make poetry enjoyable with humorous and bizarre themes.
Write poetry together – Experiment with haikus, free verse, and ballads in a pressure-free way.
Share and perform poetry – Reading aloud makes poetry more engaging and builds confidence.
Keep it fun and relatable – Allow kids to write about what interests them, no matter how silly or weird.

By following these steps, poetry can become a joyful and engaging part of your children’s lives, sparking creativity and making reading and writing an adventure!