'Poem for Children' category

In 2008, serious concerns were raised about the decline in poetry reading among the young, and interested parties including the Poetry Book Society, The Literacy Trust and publisher Macmillan met to discuss strategies to tackle this problem. It emerged that very few new poetry books for children are currently being published, that those that are published are under-stocked by bookshops, and that primary school teachers often lack the knowledge and confidence they need to help their pupils to enjoy poetry.

Steps are being taken to raise awareness of these issues and to encourage poets to write for a young audience. Our 'Poem for Children' category was new in 2009, and is being run again this year as a pilot for a proposed larger project that we hope would enable us to engage substantial numbers of children in reading and appreciating poems. Entries will be sifted and shortlisted by the adult judging panel, but final judging will be undertaken by a panel of children. The overall winning poet will receive a £100 prize, and three runners-up will receive a commendation listing on the Plough Prize website. All entries are eligible for  tick-box or in-depth critiques (see the main competition pages for further information).

Again this year we are not limiting the length of entries. This will enable poets to submit longer, narrative pieces as well as shorter poems for children. Obviously, though, the longer the poem the more difficult it will be to sustain the reader's interest, and even a book-length poem for younger children is usually heavily illustrated and doesn't actually contain all that many words. There are no prizes for submitting the longest poem, and excessive length will be a disadvantage. If you're in doubt, why not try your piece out on a child or two before you enter it?

What makes a good children's poem?

As Ted Hughes once said, 'Writing for children is a curious occupation, and the most curious thing about it is that we think children need a special kind of poetry.' Poems entered in this category must be suitable for primary aged children - that is, children between approximately 5-11 yrs of age - to either read for themselves or have read to them by someone older. Within that broad remit, it's impossible to define exactly what makes a good children's poem, but here are some ideas that might help:

• Writing for children is not an easy option! Good poems for children are as carefully written and technically accomplished and as those for adults, though the vocabulary may be simpler.

• Children's poems need not be 'cosy', and should never talk down to their readers - they can tackle serious themes as well as funny or silly ones.

• Creative use of language can be great fun, but even a poem using made-up words needs to stick to the logic of real language - or else it really is just nonsense.

• Children enjoy poems that engage and stretch their imagination, and like to be both challenged and reassured.

• Rhyme and rhythm can be great assets, especially where younger children are concerned, but they aren't enough on their own and shouldn't be allowed to dominate the piece: in a good poem, sense comes first.

• Archaic language and references to the the sort of childhood experiences that the poet may remember in middle age but that are now long gone are likely to fall flat with young readers. They will respond best to current usage and references they understand. 

• A strong title is essential to catch the reader's attention, followed by an engaging opening.

• A strong ending is important if the reader is not to feel let down by the poem.

• The good children's poem may tell a story, tell a joke, explore a familiar situation, turn that situation upside down, introduce a new idea, create a fantasy world. It may even be in some way 'educational', but if it seeks to instruct it is unlikely to appeal.

 But all of these points apply to any poetry, don't they? So perhaps Ted Hughes was right, and children really don't need 'a special kind of poetry' after all. It's going to be very interesting to see what our young judging panel has to say about this, and we'll report their comments on the website after the judging is complete. Good luck, if you decide to enter. We're looking forward to reading your poems

Sarah Willans
Author and Plough Prize Administrator, 2003 - 2009