Helping Kids Write Poems for Mother’s Day: A Unique, Meaningful Gift

One easy way to help a child of any age write a personalized Mother’s Day poem is to help him appropriately fill in the blanks of the following poem. Before you get started, obtain the short list of information (described below) from the child. Write down each response for later reference. This information will be inserted in the appropriate blanks of the poem as indicated, making the process fun and easy. Let’s get started!

First, ask the child by what name he usually calls his mother. Does he call her “Mommy,” “Mom,” “Mama”, “Ma,” or “Sharon”? It is important to use the name by which he most often calls his mother to give the poem the most personal touch.

Second, have the child name two activities that he enjoys doing with his mother. Does he enjoy going to the playground, reading a book, baking cookies, singing silly songs or coloring pictures with her? Pick the top two favorite activities.

Third, ask the child to name two special ways that his mother takes care of him. Does she fix him special food when he is sick, drive him to school when it’s raining, tuck him in bed at night or have a special way of saying she loves him? Help the child think about the ways his mother takes care of him. This might be an abstract concept to many children, so don’t be afraid to prompt the child by giving possible examples that you have observed in his interactions with his mother.

Fourth, have the child name his favorite clothing outfit and his favorite food that his mother fixes.

Now, you’re ready to fill in the blanks in the following poem.

[Insert name by which the child calls his mother], I love you very much!

I wonder if you know.

Just in case you don’t,

I’m going to tell you so.

When we [insert one activity that the child enjoys doing with his mother] together

I always have so much fun.

Just like when we [insert another activity that the child enjoys doing with his mother],

I love the things we’ve done.

And [insert name by which the child calls his mother], I really love the way

You take special care of me.

You [insert example of special care] and [insert example of special care].

I’m cared-for as can be!

[Insert name by which the child calls his mother], you’re busy every day.

You work so hard, it’s true.

You wash my [insert child’s favorite clothing outfit]

And fix [insert child’s favorite food] for me, too.

So, [insert name by which the child calls his mother], I really love you.

I hope by now you know.

And if you ever wonder,

This poem tells you so.

(copyright 2008, Lisa Hajda)

Here’s an example of a poem completed for one of my daughters:

Mom, I love you very much!

I wonder if you know.

Just in case you don’t,

I’m going to tell you so.

When we sew together

I always have so much fun.

Just like when we go on trips,

I love the things we’ve done.

And Mom, I really love the way

You take special care of me.

You listen to what I say I want and help me write letters.

I’m cared-for as can be!

Mom, you’re busy every day.

You work so hard, it’s true.

You wash my maroon flower-girl dress

And fix creamy potato soup for me, too.

So, Mom, I really love you.

I hope by now you know.

And if you ever wonder,

This poem tells you so.

As the “scribe” for the child, you can help him phrase the inserted information, or just use the child’s exact wording. For a very young child or baby, you can fill in the poem based entirely on your observations of the interactions between the mother and child.

Have fun helping a child write a personalized Mother’s Day poem. It’s a perfect gift.