How to Host a Poetry Tea Party for Kids: A Fun Way to Celebrate National Poetry Month
Want a fun way to celebrate National Poetry Month? Learn how to host a cozy poetry tea party for kids with easy snacks, fun poems, and low-prep ideas your family will love.
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Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? In my former life as a middle school English teacher, I loved teaching poetry. Not because I’m some beret-wearing devotee who thrives on confusing metaphors written by depressing dead guys, but precisely because too many people believe that’s what poetry is.
Too many of us had all the life squeezed out of poetry when we were forced to analyze it to death in school.
But poetry really can be enjoyable, if you approach it with an open imagination and a sense of fun. When I was teaching, I made it a personal quest to help my students find the fun in poetry, and now I’m doing the same with my own kids.
Let me show you one of our favorite traditions: a poetry tea party.
What is a poetry tea party?
It’s an idea I came across several years ago during our 2020 forray into homeschooling. Basically, you have a tea party, and while you nibble on snacks and sip tea, you read poetry together!
It’s a simple, low-stakes way to introduce poetry to your kids. It works for kids of all ages, and it’s a perfect way to celebrate National Poetry Month!
Interested? Here’s how to host your own…
What you need for a poetry tea party
The nice thing about this activity is that it’s super flexible. You can keep it really simple, or you can go all out. Do whatever feels fun and doable for you!
The first time we did this activity, we kept it pretty simple, with snacks we had on hand and apple cider instead of tea. Since then, we’ve done several more poetry tea parties, some fancier than others. Here’s everything you need, with options for varying levels of effort:
Easy Food Ideas
If you’re feeling fancy, whip up some cucumber sandwiches or baked scones (they’re really so delicious). These are classic afternoon tea recipes, and they’re both easy enough that your kids can make them with you! My kids are borderline obsessed with baked scones ever since we tried them a couple of years ago for one of our tea parties. And honestly, I think they’re delicious, too!
If you want a simpler option, just grab a plate or a snack tray and toss your family’s favorite snacks into it. Use bite-sized items like crackers, grapes, berries, baby carrots, raisins, nuts, etc. Sometimes, simple is best.
Drinks
Just because it’s a tea party doesn’t mean you have to serve actual tea. We have used herbal tea before, but my kids don’t really love it, so here are some other options to consider:
- Apple cider (my kids’ favorite)
- Hot chocolate
- Juice
- Lemonade
- Water (not as exciting though)
Tea Set Options
To make your tea party feel really special, it’s fun to serve everything using a real tea set. I have a really cute bunny-themed tea set from my childhood that I pulled out for our first tea party. I prepped my boys in advance that it was breakable and very special to mommy, so they needed to be extra careful. I didn’t know if my rough-and-tumble boys (who were 6 and 4 at the time) would appreciate my dainty bunnies, but they loved using my special tea set. Don’t underestimate boys!
We’ve used this set several times over the years since then, and nothing has ever been broken. I’m a big proponet of using the things we own and love, not just letting them sit in a box, so this is me encouraging you to do the same!
However, if you want a less breakable option, I love this kid-friendly tea set by Green Toys. On the days when the kids want a tea party and I don’t feel like pulling out my fancy bunny set, this is the one we use.
And remember, you don’t have to have a tea set at all. Mismatched mugs work just fine, too!
More tea sets to consider:
- Porcelain rose-patterned set
- Gold and white porcelain set with caddy
- Inexpensive plastic set (good for toddlers)
Setting the Scene (without overcomplicating)
For our poetry tea parties, I usually just throw a tablecloth on the table and call it good. It’s amazing how that one thing makes the activity feel so much more special. Sometimes I’ll add a small vase of flowers or a candle, but honestly? It’s not a must.
One thing I do recommend: Let your kids help!
Give kids the job of setting out the cups, and arranging the snacks. Send them outside to pick some flowers from the yard if you have some, or have them color strips of paper you can turn into napkin rings. Anything you can do to involve them in the preparations will build excitement before you even sit down.
If it’s a nice day, you could even take your tea party outside! Set up a card table and you have an instant garden party. How fun!
Choosing Poems Kids Will Actually Enjoy
Once you have your tea party all set up, the last thing you need is the POEMS! If choosing poetry to read to your kids feels overwhelming, here are some of my top picks:
Favorite Classic Poetry for Kids
I LOVE these Poetry for Young People books because they have great illustrations to help kids visualize the ideas in poems that would otherwise be considered “for adults”. I bought mine as a big set through a Scholastic book catalog years ago when I was teaching, but they have them individually on Amazon, too.
Here are some other options:
- The Random House Book of Poetry for Children. I just bought this amazing collection. Curated by Jack Prelutsky (the first children’s poet laureate) and illustrated by Arnold Lobel (Frog & Toad), it’s a perfect way to introduce kids to all kinds of poetry, both serious and silly.
- Classic Collection of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. This illustrated collection of nursery rhymes is perfect for younger listeners.
- A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. This classic collection of 66 poems celebrates the joy and whimsy of childhood in a way that will make you want to stretch out on a soft patch of grass and appreciate the little things of life.
Favorite Silly Poetry for Kids
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Most people are familiar with Shel Silverstein’s poems, and for good reason. They’re kooky and light-hearted, perfect for getting kids to find the fun in poetry.
- The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky. This is the book I grew up reading. I flipped through our old, beat up copy of this book countless times as child, memorized more than one of them, and promptly bought my own copy when I became an adult.
- 25 Best Edward Lear Limericks. Edward Lear is the king of limericks, and kids love these short, ridiculous poems. Try composing your own!
- What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? by Judith Viorst. These poems are full of humor and wisdom, and are a fun way to get kids thinking.
I like to alternate between silly, easy-to-understand poems and more thoughtful, descriptive poems that let my kids hear the rhythm and beauty of language.
Remember to keep and open mind as you share poetry with your kids, too. Don’t assume your kids won’t like the classics. You might be surprised! My kids were fascinated by the poems I read. When reading classic poetry, try giving them a little heads up about what the poem is about and encourage them to listen for the rhythm of the poem.
Keep It Low Pressure
This is important: you do not need to explain the poems. You don’t need to analyze them together or ask reading comprehension questions. Forget all the deep metaphors and just enjoy the sound of the language as it rolls off your tongue. This isn’t school. It’s a party!
Just read, listen, and enjoy.
How to Host Your Poetry Tea Party (Step-by-Step)
Want me to break down the process even more? Here’s your step-by-step guide.
- Set the table.
Add a tablecloth or keep it simple, whatever works that day. - Prepare snacks and drinks.
Go fancy with a English-style tea, or grab the Goldfish crackers. Both are great! - Gather your poems or books.
A small stack is plenty. - Sit down together.
Gather your kids to the table and invite everyone to enjoy the party. - Read aloud while you eat
Take turns or do all the reading yourself. My kids prefer to listen while I read. - Let kids react (or not!)
There’s no “right” way for them to engage. If they want to talk about the poems, go for it! If not, just let them listen and enjoy. If they lose interest, don’t push it. Even just reading a few is great.
Optional Ideas to Make It Extra Fun
- Let kids read a poem (only if they want to).
- Dress up. If you have girls who love any excuse to put on a frilly dress, lean into that. My boys do NOT love dressing fancy, so we skip this.
- Write your own poems. Limericks are so fun, or try composing your own haiku poems.
- Invite friends or cousins. Everything is more fun with friends! Keep the group relatively small though. In my experience, larger numbers mean more wiggles and lower attention spans.
- Host your poetry tea party outside. Garden party, anyone? Doesn’t that feel so British?
Alternatives to Poetry Tea Parties
Not into tea parties, but love the idea of sharing poetry with your kids? Try one of these ideas instead:
- Poetry picnic
- Poetry pajama party
- Poetry pizza party
There are so many ways to adapt this idea, so choose whatever will be fun for YOUR family.
Make It a Tradition
One of my favorite things about this activity is how easy it is to repeat. We’ve done poetry tea parties several times now, and my kids really enjoy them.
You can:
- Do it every April for National Poetry Month
- Bring it back on a random rainy day
- Turn it into a seasonal tradition (spring tea party, holiday version, etc.)
The more you repeat it, the more your kids start to recognize it as something special.
So what do you think? Are you game to try a poetry tea party of your own? If you do, I’d love to hear how it went. Come back and tell me in the comments below!