Although Robert Louis Stevenson died over 100 years ago, many of his poems are ageless classics, such as this one from 1913's A Child's Garden of Verses. The language is easy and not outdated, and the experience is one that every child should be able to identify with. You can even teach the grandchildren to recite it while they are swinging! "My Shadow" is another fun one for children.

 

Swing

Robert Louis Stevenson

 
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!