Acrostic Name Poem Writing

Paper

Pencil for writing

Crayons or markers for decorating

Write your child's name vertically, one letter per line, in large capitals.

Explain: "A poem about YOU! Each letter starts a word that describes you."

Start with the first letter: "E — what word describes you that starts with E? Energetic?"

Write the chosen word next to the letter.

Help brainstorm: "M — magical? Musical? Marvelous?"

Continue until every letter has a word.

Read aloud: "E-Energetic, M-Musical, M-Marvelous, A-Artistic!"

Decorate and display on the bedroom door or fridge.

Acrostic poems are a perfect first poetry experience because they have a clear, simple structure. There's no pressure to rhyme, no meter to follow — just one word per line. The constraint makes it approachable.

This activity builds letter-sound awareness (what words start with M?), vocabulary (learning words like "marvelous" and "courageous"), AND self-esteem (the whole poem is about them).

Keep a list of adjectives ready for tricky letters like X or Q. X: x-tra special, x-ceptional. Q: quick, quiet, quirky. Y: youthful, yarning. Z: zany, zooming.

Try making acrostic poems for family members, pets, or friends as gifts. Kids love creating personalized poems for people they care about.

Once they've mastered name poems, try acrostic poems with other words: SUMMER, SCHOOL, SOCCER — any topic they love.