Meaningful Words
We have carefully selected a few of our favourite poems and quotations on the theme of childhood so you can add that finishing touch to your oak toy box on the underside of the lid. Whether you want to celebrate, inspire or amuse, we think you’ll find something to your taste in our catalogue, but if you have something else in mind, let us know and we’ll make it happen.
1. Somewhere inside all of us
Somewhere inside all of us
Is the power to change the world
Roald Dahl
2. Someone without a smile
If you see someone without a smile
Give them one of yours
Dolly Parton
3. Everything that you do
Everything that you do or don’t do
Comes down to confidence
Anon
4. One book one pen one child
One book one pen
One child and one teacher
Can change the world
Malala Yousafzai
5. We don’t stop playing
We don’t stop playing because we grow old
We grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
6. Braver than you believe
You are braver than you believe
Stronger than you seem
And smarter than you think
Karl Geurs and Carter Crocker
7. We try to teach our children
While we try to teach our children all about life
Our children teach us what life is all about
Angela Schwindt
8. Be who you are
Be who you are and say what you feel
Because those who mind don’t matter
And those who matter don’t mind
Dr Seuss
9. If you have good thoughts
If you have good thoughts
They will shine out of your face like sunbeams
And you will always look lovely
Roald Dahl
10. Happiness can be found
Happiness can always be found
Even in the darkest of times
If only one remembers to turn on the light
J K Rowling
11. Twinkle twinkle little star
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Jane Taylor
12. The greatest gifts
The greatest gifts we can give our children
Are the roots of responsibility
And the wings of independence
Maria Montessori
13. No such flowers in any land
The world has no such flowers in any land
And no such pearl in any gulf the sea
As any babe on any mother’s knee
Algernon Swinburne
14. Hope is the thing with feathers
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all
Emily Dickinson
15. Always remember you matter
Always remember you matter
You’re important and you are loved
And you bring to this world
Things no one else can
Charlie Mackesy
16. Dear eyes good-night
Dear eyes good-night
In golden light the stars around you gleam
On you I press with soft caress
A little lovely dream
Sarojini Naidu
17. Golden slumbers
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby
Paul McCartney
18. No picture so beautiful
To me there is no picture so beautiful
As smiling bright-eyed happy children
No music so sweet
As their clear and ringing laughter
P T Barnum
19. Grown-ups never understand
Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves
And it is tiresome for children to be always and forever
Explaining things to them
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
20. A dreary place be this earth
A dreary place would be this earth
Were there no little people in it
The song of life would lose its mirth
Were there no children to begin it
J G Whittier
21. When our hearts hurt
What do we do when our hearts hurt asked the boy
We wrap them with friendship shared tears and time
Till they wake hopeful and happy again
Charlie Mackesy
22. Star light star bright
Star light star bright
The first star I see tonight
I wish I may I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
Anon
23. Let your old age be childlike
Let your old age be childlike
And your childhood like old age
That is so that neither may your wisdom be with pride
Nor your humility without wisdom
Saint Augustine
24. Play is serious learning
Play is often talked about as if it were
a relief from serious learning
But for children play is serious learning
Play is really the work of childhood
F Rogers
25. When the first baby laughed
When the first baby laughed for the first time
The laugh broke into a thousand pieces
And they all went skipping about
And that was the beginning of fairies
J M Barrie
26. Children are not your children
Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you
Kahlil Gibran