Poems for Kids – Funny, Inspiring & Classroom-Ready Poetry

If you’re looking for poems for kids that make children laugh, think, imagine and feel seen, you’re in the right place.

I’m Mark Bird, a UK children’s poet and primary school teacher. For years, I’ve written and shared poems in real classrooms — poems that spark giggles, start conversations, build confidence and sometimes even help children make sense of big feelings. Every poem on this site has been read aloud to pupils, tested in lessons, and shaped by the reactions of children themselves.

On this page, you’ll find a wide range of poems for kids — from funny poems that work brilliantly in assemblies, to thoughtful poems about friendship, dreams, resilience and being different. Whether you’re a parent, teacher or young reader, I hope you discover something here that stays with you long after the last line.

Mark Bird reading poems to primary school children in a UK classroom

Explore Poems for Kids by Theme

Poetry means different things to different children. Some love rhythm and rhyme. Some love humour. Some connect with poems that help them feel understood. Below, you’ll find poems grouped by theme, so you can quickly discover the kind of poem you’re looking for — whether you’re a teacher planning a lesson, a parent reading at bedtime, or a child exploring poetry for the first time.

Funny Poems for Kids
Short Poems for Kids
School Poems for Kids
Friendship & Kindness Poems
Dream & Imagination Poems
Poems About Being Different
Year 6 Leavers Poems
Football Poems for Kids
Anti-Bullying Poems for Kids
Kenning Poems KS2

Funny Poems for Kids

Funny poems for kids are often the doorway into poetry. A giggle can turn into curiosity. A rhyme can turn into confidence. In my classroom, humour is often what hooks even the most reluctant readers. These poems are written to be read aloud, performed, shared and enjoyed — whether in an assembly hall or at the end of the school day.

I Always Play The Christmas Tree

A humorous and relatable poem about school nativity roles, frustration, and a surprising twist. This one often raises knowing smiles from Year 6 pupils.

👉 Read the full poem