These days restaurants cover their dining rooms with TV’s, and you're blasted with fifty different channels before your appetizer arrives. You can’t stop for gas, shop for groceries, or even visit a restroom without someone sending a sound byte your way.

If we want to raise poetic kids, we must find time and space for silence. Ironically, a strong powerful voice requires quiet and stillness. As we prepare for another blockbuster summer, how about a word for silence?

Sit down with your child and make a list of all the words you associate with silence. Descriptive words, action words, people, places and emotions relating to quiet. Include some opposites as well.

Calm Shhhhh Peace Motionless Boom

Quiet Library Tranquility Ripple in a pool

Hushed Church Serenity Hustle Roar

Then begin to play with your words on the page and see what kind of interesting combinations you can create.

Calm the roar with a tranquil shhhhh.
And hush the boom -
Like your life was a library.

Motionless.

Peaceful.

Silent.

We’d love to hear from you. If you have any ideas about creating quiet reflection in kids, contact us here.

We always like to hear from parents who are writing poems. This month's Lunchbox Poetry Award goes to Jean in LaGrange, Il.

Not grace of nature
Nor foibles of man.
Cool of evening -
Whatever is cooking in that pan
Can serve me on this day.

I am leaving the kitchen
With a sigh of dismay.
It is me that is bland.

When the world has spice
(Which cannot be reached on any shelf)
What will warm and season the soup of this life
When one aims to serve just herself?

I must rest on the notion
That tomorrow be delicious
By spooning for others
It indeed becomes nutritious!

Parents and kids are encouraged to submit their poems to our website. Click here to find out more about our monthly poetry contest.

I hope you enjoyed the monthly update. Encourage your friends to visit our website. This summer we will featuring poetry podcasts. Keep your eyes and ears open for Radio Poetry.

Until next time...Kiss The Fish,

Bill Buczinsky
A Child's Voice

Visit us at www.childs-voice-poetry.com