Tips from Anna Harmon
10 Reasons Why Rhyme, Rhythm, Repetition, and the Poetry They Create, Work:
“Rhymers will be readers: it’s that simple.” – Mem Fox
Rhyme:
1. Rhyme is an easy introduction to literacy! Research shows that even young toddlers practice their own made-up rhymes such as "oogie, woogie, poogie" over and over. It’s an easy, pleasant starting point for learning word and language structure.2. Rhyme builds vocabulary! It introduces words not necessarily found in daily conversation, and creates simple ways to remember them. It’s also an easy way to learn the sounds of letters and words.
3. Rhyming words develop strong pathways in the brain. According to Alice Sterling Honig, PhD, “Becoming aware of rhyming sounds boosts brain activity and a child’s early literacy ability.” Conversely, children who enter kindergarten unable to recognize rhymes have a harder time with early literacy experiences.
Repetition:
4. Repetition is baby-friendly! Babies’ minds are wired to seek out reccurring sounds, patterns, and experiences, which is one reason they like poetry (and benefit from regular feeding and bedtimes). While babies may not be able to understand the words read to them, their minds pick up on and retain sounds, words, and patterns (such as rhyme and rhythm) that they hear.5. Repetition is calming for stressed keiki! Early on, babies can feel overwhelmed and scared by “a bombardment of sensory stimulation.” In response, they seek out order – reading aloud or singing a nursery rhyme while rocking provides a sense of rhythmic stability and security, especially when the child has heard it before.
Rhythm (beyond numbers 4 and 5):
6. Rhythm is great to get the wiggles out! Children with high energy levels love when adults recite a rhyme in time to bouncing, running, or jumping, and they’re being introduced to literacy at the same time. Prove to those high-energy kids that reading is still an option!Poetry
Besides all of the individual benefits of the poetic devices listed above, poetry (which makes use of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition) has additional reasons for its appeal to keiki:
7.
Poetry is fun! While adults may hear “poetry” and think about days spent slogging through rhyming patterns and obscure language, children’s poetry is accessible and entertaining, with 
nonsensical words, amusing images, and fun sounds. See: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, or Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, which both employ poetic devices including rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. 8. Poetry is catchy! It gets toddlers’ attention in a positive way when they are not paying attention or misbehaving. It also engages and expands toddlers’ memories, when the poems used to gain attention have been used before. (Ex. the clean up song, or other piggybacking songs found here)
9. Poetry is great for reluctant readers! It takes only one page, or a short story, and a child has started and finished a reading project. It’s instant literary gratification.
10. Poetry is perfect accompanying activities. Read a poem aloud, then have your listener(s) create one(s) of their own. Poetry lets keiki take on easy-to-complete projects while learning the nuances of language, expressing themselves, and having fun.
Sources:
Mem Fox, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever.
Infants & Toddlers: Learning Through Rhythm & Rhyme: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3530
Break Out the Funny Bedtime Stories: Reading Activities with Young Children: http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Funny-Bedtime-Stories-Reading-1921.aspx
Keys to Enhancing Brain Development in Young Children: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs611w.htm
Your Brilliant Baby in Week 18: Synchronizing Sound with Movement: http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nurturing/baby_week_by_week/article/week-18-baby