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Summer is one of the most enjoyable seasons, with long days and short nights, providing plenty of opportunities for your children to play and participate in exciting activities. One such activity can be reciting summer poems for kids, which can be fun and interesting. When you are at the beach playing in the sand, you can recite these playful poems to make your vacation more fun. Though summer doesn’t last all year round, they can be enjoyed regardless of the season. You can use these poems to encourage your child to use their imagination and creativity to come up with original poems. Writing poetry enhances children’s vocabulary and promotes emotional expression and thinking skills. If their poem does not rhyme then even better as a funny verse can elicit laughter. Continue reading to learn about some of the best summer poems your children can recite while enjoying the season.
Summer Poems For Kids
Poems about seasons are a great way to introduce children to new words. Each season evokes a specific set of emotions, memories, music, and images (1). In the summer, for example, you have great memories of beach trips, water games, vacations, and summer camps. These activities have different emotions and memories attached to them, which makes summer a happy time for children. Summer poems for kids can be transformed into a fun and exciting brainstorming activity for kids. Chrysa Papalazarou, an English teacher, shares her first day at a new school and how she made her class interesting for sixth graders after the summer holidays. She says, “I drew a sun on the board and wrote the word “summer” in it. I heard a few sighs in the classroom. I added the word memories in the sun shape. More sighs were heard. I wrote underneath, outside the shape: I remember…
“I asked them to close their eyes, think of their summer, and choose only one of their memories to share with the rest of the class. They would start with I remember and try to keep their answers short, up to five or six words. We went on adding verses to our poem in the same way. Students would choose a memory and then I would ask them to add something relevant to it. (i).” Isn’t this a good idea to try with your kids?
Meanwhile, try these poems about summer. They can help you get close to the beautiful and pleasant summer season’s sea, sun, wind, grass, and trees. These poems are simple yet evoke a deep sense of longing for summer afternoons. They also include descriptive words that can improve your child’s vocabulary.
1. Mud
Mud is very nice to feel
All squishy-squash between the toes!
I’d rather wade in wiggly mud
Than smell a yellow rose.
Nobody else but the
rosebush knows
How nice mud feels
Between the toes.
– Polly Chase Boyden, ucanr.edu
This playful poem talks about the squishy feeling of mud between your toes. The simple structure and vivid description make it enjoyable to read for children. You can let your children run out barefoot and experience the mud underneath their feet—it offers many benefits to children (2).
2. Summer Song
Wanderer moon
smiling a
faintly ironical smile
at this
brilliant, dew-moistened
summer morning,—
a detached
sleepily indifferent
smile, a
wanderer’s smile,—
if I should
buy a shirt
your color and
put on a necktie
sky-blue
where would they carry me?
– William Carlos Williams, poets.org
Summer Song is a dreamy reflection of a summer morning with the moon as an observer. This poem teaches children about different points of view and sparks their imagination. Ask your child to describe a summer’s day in their own words and use the descriptive words to compose a story or a poem.
3. Summer Stars
Bend low again, night of summer stars.
So near you are, sky of summer stars,
So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars,
Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,
So near you are, summer stars,
So near, strumming, strumming,
So lazy and hum-strumming.
– Carl Sandburg, poets.org
This poem talks about a calm summer night when even stars seem close enough to touch. It is short and has a rhythmic sound that makes it a perfect fit for sleepy little ones. This poem can be recited near a window or in your backyard, where your child can see the sky and reach out to touch the stars.
4. Warm Summer Sun
Warm summer sun,
Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind,
Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light, lie light.
Good night, dear heart,
Good night, good night.
– Mark Twain, poets.org
This short poem talks about the beauty of nature in a few evocative lines. Its rhythmic lines make it easy for children to follow and remember it. Ask your child what they would like nature to bring to them.
Did you know?5. I Love Summer
I love summer! Summer is hot.
It’s sun and shade.
It’s water to wade.
It’s frogs and bugs.
It’s grass for rugs.
It’s eating outside.
It’s a tree-swing ride.
It’s tomatoes and corn.
It’s dew in the morn.
It’s dogs and boys
And lots of noise.
It’s a hot sunny sky.
It’s summer. That’s why…..
I love summer.
In the summer when the days are hot,
I like to find a shady spot,
And hardly move a single bit
And sit, and sit, and sit, and sit.
– Unknown, canteach.ca
I Love Summer is a happy poem that captures the excitement of the season. It uses vivid descriptions and playful rhymes to entice children to enjoy the season. Sit with your child and list all the things you do in summer.
6. Summer Sun
Summer sun in the sky
Shining, shining up so high
Makes it warm for outside fun
To play at the park and run
To swim, hike, and fish
And go on a picnic, if you wish!
– Unknown, canteach.ca
Summertime can be fun with activities in the sun. This fun little poem encourages children to appreciate nature while also teaching them new words.
7. Summer Rain
I know it can’t be summer,
It’s raining and raining outside.
The thunder cracks and lightening smacks,
I’m glad that I’m inside.
Then all of a sudden the sun peeks through,
As if to say hello,
I guess it needs to rain sometimes,
For the flowers and trees to grow.
– Debbie Hasbrook, lessons4learners.com
Summer rains may be sudden, but they are refreshing. When the sun peeks through the clouds, it gives a sense of calmness. This short poem teaches children how weather can change in an instant. Ask your child to create a weather journal in which they can write down different weather changes over a month. For younger children, you can create a mood board with colors and activities representing each season.
Sasha, a Montessori teacher who maintains the blog named To the Lesson, writes about how changing seasons is a fascinating topic with her students. In her blog, she writes, “I have noticed over the years how much my students enjoy watching the seasons change. I too, appreciate the opportunities these observations of the passing of time allow me to integrate specific materials in the classroom. Recently, with the help of my intern, I put together a lesson which highlights each season while giving a visual impression of the passing of time (ii).”
8. Oh, How I Love Summer
Though May did bring her deepest grey
And June did bring her gloom,
I woke up this morning in a glorious way.
To sunshine in my room.
Quick, get up,
It’s time to rise.
Greet the day.
I started to cry.
For today,
It has begun.
It’s finally here,
The summer sun!
Feel her warmth,
See my garden grow,
Taste the sweetest fruits,
Watch the butterflies flow.
Hear the squirrel chatter
And my orioles swoon.
Till the evening comes
With the summer moon.
It seems like I’ve waited
Such a very long time.
Longing for the light of
Your rays of sunshine.
So please stay a while.
Bring your long, lazy days.
I’ll cherish each blue sky.
And ride every wave.
Oh, how I love summer
And all of her songs,
Happy summer to all,
And may it be long!
– Susan M Gilbert, familyfriendpoems.com
This poem captures the joy of sunshine and warm, lazy summer days. It also teaches children to be excited for the summer and appreciate the changing seasons. Let your child select a plant to nurture as a summer project and invest time in learning about the plant and the proper way to grow it.
Trivia9. In the Mountains on a Summer Day
Gently I stir a white feather fan,
With open shirt sitting in a green wood.
I take off my cap and hang it on a jutting stone;
A wind from the pine-trees trickles on my bare head.
– Li Po, poets.org
In four lines, the poet manages to convey the tranquility of a summer day. It is simple yet promotes a sense of relaxation among children. Make origami fans and recreate the ambiance of a mountain right at home.
10. Golden Sun
Great, glorious, golden sun,
Shine down on me today!
You are the life of all this earth,
You and your magic ray.
You are the life of bird and planet,
All must depend on you.
Shine down, great sun, the whole day long!
Shine from the heaven’s blue.
And I will welcome your golden rays,
For you mean life to me,
And you mean happiness and health,
Strength and energy.
Shine down, great sun, on flower and field,
And never say goodbye.
Forever and ever give us your light
From out the wide, blue sky.
– Lenore Hetrick, maine.gov
When you think of summer, you automatically think of the sun. Its role in nature and life is unbeatable. This poem talks about the importance of the sun in a measured rhythm. Teach your child about the sun and the solar system. You can also talk about the rainbow, solar energy, and other aspects related to the sun.
11. Summer Morning
I saw dawn creep across the sky,
And all the gulls go flying by.
I saw the sea put on its dress
Of blue midsummer loveliness,
And heard the trees begin to stir
Green arms of pine and juniper.
I heard the wind call out and say:
Get up, my dear, it is today!
– Rachel Field, poetrynook.com
Sunrise on a summer day is full of colors and sensations. This short poem describes the vivid images and gives children a way to experience them using sensory details. Let your child make a list of things they see on a summer morning. If possible, let them wake up at dawn and experience it.
Illustration: Short And Funny Summer Poem For Kids
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some poetic techniques used in summer poems for kids?
Summer poems for children use different rhyme schemes, including alternate, coupled, and mono styles, as these are most likely easy to understand and remember.
2. How can I encourage my child to write their summer poem?
You can sit with your child and compose summer poems together. Ask them to suggest rhyming words so you can frame the sentences. When they enjoy writing a poem with you, encourage them to write one of their own without any help. Pick a theme from their summer experiences to inspire creativity. Use prompts like asking about their favorite summer memory. Once they have created their pieces, celebrate by reading them aloud as a family.
3. What is the tone of most summer poems for kids?
The tone in most summer poems is bright, cheery, and excited.
4. Do most summer poems for kids rhyme?
Not necessarily. However, rhyming poems for kids are easier to understand and remember.
5. What ages are appropriate for reading or writing summer poems?
There is no set age for a child to read or write a summer poem. If they are interested in listening to poems, they can start as soon as they learn to read and write.
6. How can I incorporate summer poetry into my child’s summer reading?
You can buy them books on summer poetry or play aloud summer poetries in your car or at home. When they read and listen to the poems, they get familiarized and start enjoying them.
7. What can summer poetry teach children about the season?
Summer poems teach children the characteristics of the season, which are bright sunny skies and warm breezes. It is also the time to play and enjoy without worrying about school and homework.
Summer makes everything around bright and beautiful. It is the time for some adventure and exploration. It is the time to go swimming in the pool and gorge on lemonades and watermelons. Children get ample opportunity to play outdoors and be close to nature. It’s the time to soak in the sunlight and not be bothered by the heat. Ice creams and cold drinks are an integral part, and summer holidays add a gush of joy to the little hearts. The clear blue sky dotted with birds, the summer breeze, blue seas, flowers, insects, and butterflies are perfect inspirations to pen down a few lines of poetry. Encourage your children to express their thoughts in poetry. Also, read these poems to your children or hear them recite them for a fun-filled summer.
Key Pointers
- Summer is a delightful season with long days and short nights, offering ample opportunities for children to engage in playful activities.
- Reciting playful summer poems can enhance the enjoyment of summer vacations.
- The beauty of summer, illustrated by clear blue skies, blooming flowers, and the presence of various insects and butterflies, serves as perfect inspiration for children to create poetry.
- Encouraging children to express their thoughts through poetry and participating in reading or reciting poems together can lead to a fun and enriching summer experience.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. First day at school: “I remember summer poems”;https://chrysapapalazarou.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/first-day-at-school-i-remember-summer-poems/ ii. The Seasons Come and Go.
https://tothelesson.blogspot.com/2011/11/seasons-come-and-go.html
References
- A Poem for all Seasons.
https://lead.nwp.org/a-poem-for-all-seasons/ - Why children should engage in sand and mud play
https://www.shel.edu.au/why-children-should-engage-in-sand-and-mud-play/
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