Poetry & Rhyme

Poetry and poetic language form an integral part of early childhood and play experiences, developing in the formative years as children come across it in picture books, through songs and nursery rhymes. Across the schooling years, poetry aids language acquisition, and builds reading, writing and speaking skills (Elster, 2010). Focussing on phonological awareness through poetry and rhyme provides an opportunity in early childhood education for developing literacy foundations, starting with syllables and rhyme.