Love makes us feel all topsy turvy, doesn’t it? It’s why we have the phrase love sick, after all. That wild roller coaster of stomach-churning excitement when you’re around someone you like is something even a little kid can appreciate. So let them share those feelings with this poem.

Valentine, you make me silly;

You make my heart beat willy-nilly;

When I’m with you, the world is hazy;

Valentine, you drive me crazy! Valentine, when we’re apart,

My need for you goes off the chart.

Will you be mine? Can I be thine?

Say you’ll be my Valentine!

This is a great Valentine for preschoolers, especially because it comes complete with hand movements they can learn to help them memorize the words. Teach them to act out these verses, then they can perform them for whoever they want on Valentine’s Day.

Valentines, valentines, red and blue

One for father (hold up thumb)

One for mother (pointer finger)

One for grandma (middle finger)

One for sister (ring finger)

One for brother (little finger)

And here is one for you

(make heart shape with thumbs and pointer fingers)

If your child is familiar with the favorite Halloween ditty “Five Little Pumpkins” then they’ll quickly figure out this take on the original geared toward V-Day. It’s the same rhythm as the spooky version, only this time we’re talking about L-O-V-E.

Five little hearts, all in a row.

The first one said, "I love you so!"

The second one said, "Will you be my Valentine?"

The third one said, "I will, if you'll be mine!"

The fourth one said, "I'll always be your friend!"

The fifth one said, "I'll be friends until the very end!"

Want to make your kiddos giggle? This Valentine’s poem for kids is sure to do the trick. In this simple rhyme, your child gets to end on the zinger “Do you promise not to faint?” Ha! They’ll love saying this one over and over with squeals of delight.

Here is a Valentine.

I made it just for you.

With paper and ribbons

And lots of Elmer’s glue!

I cut it with my scissors

And designed it with my paint.

If I tell you that I love you,

Do you promise not to faint?

This little verse is supposed to be sung to the tune of “Mary had a little lamb.” And what kid doesn’t know that song? They’ll be able to learn this in seconds and sing it any time they want to whomever they want (but pro tip: make it be grandma).

You’re a special friend of mine,

Friend of mine, friend of mine.

You’re a special friend of mine.

Be my Valentine!

Poems that are easy to kids to understand and recite are often their favorite and this one is just that. The repetitive nature of the stanzas makes it easy to learn so they can run off and say it to their buddies.

Oh, Will, you be my Valentine,

My valentine, my valentine?

Oh, will you be my valentine,

And love me every day?

Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,

Your valentine,

Your valentine

Oh, yes, I’ll be your valentine,

And love you every day!

Sometimes song lyrics are the perfect poem and that’s the truth with this 1950 classic tune Doris Day sang in the musical Guys & Dolls. I can’t tell you how many times my grandma sang this to me as a child and now I sing it to my son.

I love you a bushel and a peck

A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck

A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap

A barrel and a heap and I'm talkin' in my sleep

About you, about you

'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck

You bet your purdy neck I do

I like this poem for kids because it uses simple illustrations to demonstrate how love works. Love is all around us, like a circle and it whirls and twirls us around — ain’t that the truth?

Love is a circle,

Round and round,

Love goes up,

And love comes down,

Love is on the inside,

Trying to get out,

Love is whirling and twirling about!

I can almost hear the thrum of a jump rope keeping time to this rhythmic poem on a playground. The sing-song style is perfect for elementary memorization.

Red hearts, White hearts,

Pink hearts, too.

I like Purple hearts.

How about you?

Green hearts, Yellow hearts,

Blue hearts, too.

I like rainbow hearts.

How about you?

Another great choice in the large list of Valentine’s poems for kids? This poem. It works best when the child can see author Shel Silverstein’s accompanying illustration, a child holding a sign with the letter V on it. Still, if you can describe that image to a kid, I think they’ll still see the humor.

Ricky was “L” but he’s home with the flu

Lizzie, our “O”, had some homework to do.

Mitchell, “E”, prob’ly got lost on the way,

So I’m all of love that could make it today.

I don’t know who came up with this little poem, but I’m guessing it was a brilliant elementary school teacher. Just imagine a classroom of tiny tots acting out this darling little message? Hear that? That was the sound of my heart bursting.

When I say I love you

(point to lips)

It comes from my heart

(hand on heart)

You hear it in your ear

(point to ear)

And it sounds very smart

(point to head)

This cute poem is short and sweet. What's not to like about Valentine's Day poems that are also about vegetables? And there are actually more vegetable-themed Valentine's Day poems than you might think.

My love is like a cabbage

Divided into two,

The leaves I give to others,

The heart I give to you.

An oldie, but a goodie, "Roses Are Red" is a kid-friendly poem that's good for all ages. This modern take on the more formal variations of old is easy for even younger kids to understand.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Sugar is sweet,

And so are you.

This classic poem by famous American poet E.E. Cummings maybe isn't the most traditional choice for kids, but if you're a parent, this sweet poem about love and always carrying someone else's heart with you might be a great choice to share with slightly older children. It's sometimes used in wedding vows, as well, so it's a good one for adults too.

i carry your heart with me

(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it

(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

Another good one for parents and children to share together, this poem is short, which is good for kids, but also really easy to understand. For the most part, they'll probably already be very familiar with everything in the poem.

Bears love honey,

Flowers love dew,

Bankers love money,

And I love you.

If you have a little one learning shapes and colors, this is the perfect Valentine's Day poem for them. Coloring a holiday-themed picture or even sharing a little bit of candy while looking over this poem would make for a full-on Valentine's Day activity. It's also a song that can be sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Red hearts, White hearts,

Pink hearts, too.

I like Purple hearts.

How about you?

Green hearts, Yellow hearts,

Blue hearts, too.

I like rainbow hearts.

How about you?

This cute poem is good for Valentine's Day because it's about both love, of course, and just about every sweet treat you can think of. American poet Jack Prelutsky has written many books for kids, so it makes sense that some of his poems are perfectly-suited to little eyes and ears as well.

I love you more than applesauce,

Than peaches and a plum,

Than chocolate hearts,

And cherry tarts,

And berry bubblegum.

Another kid-friendly Valentine's Day poem written by Jack Prelutsky. This funny poem will be oh-so-relatable to kids and moms alike, who've seen sweet gifts like a box of chocolate vanish as quickly as they appeared once the kids got ahold of them. It's the thought that counts though, right?

I bought a box of chocolate hearts,

A present for my mother,

They looked so good I tasted one,

And then I tried another.

This sweet Valentine’s Day poem for kids is lovely nod to one of the top gifts given on the holiday — diamonds. By English modernist writer Mary Frances Butts, the poem tells a sparkling story that’s perfectly fitting for little ones on Feb. 14.

A million little diamonds

Twinkled on the trees;

And all the little children cried,

“A jewel, if you please!”

But while they held their hands outstretched

To catch the diamonds gay,

A million little sunbeams came

And stole them all away.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day poem for kids that mentions the holiday’s signature colors of red and pink, this poem by Christina Rossetti is a fun choice. Though free-flowing in nature, the poem’s structure as it poses questions about different colors and gives answers in response is easy for kids to follow.

What is pink? A rose is pink

By the fountain’s brink.

What is red? A poppy’s red

In its barley bed.

What is blue? The sky is blue

Where the clouds float through.

What is white? A swan is white

Sailing in the light.

What is yellow? Pears are yellow,

Rich and ripe and mellow.

What is green? The grass is green, With small flowers between.

What is violet? Clouds are violet

In the summer twilight.

What is orange? Why, an orange,

Just an orange!

Written as an acrostic where the first letter of each line spells out the poem’s title and theme, “Love” by Kaitlyn Guenther is a short and sweet childrens’ poem about love. Since it’s visial in nature and doesn’t take up too much space, this is a great choice if you’re looking for something to write in a Valentine’s Day card for your child.

Love is a beautiful thing.

On

Valentine’s day

Everyone is loved.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day poetry for kids, this is another super cute ode to vegetables that’s totally on their level. The the author of this pun-filled poem is unknown, but with any luck, it could actually encourage your little one to eat their greens for once.

You may not "carrot" all for me

The way I care for you.

You may "turnip" your nose

When I plead with you

But if your "heart" should "beet" with mine

Forever "lettuce" hope

There is no reason in the world

Why we two “cantaloupe."