Children love rhymes, and the shorter the sentences, the sooner they get to the fun sounds. Remember how they were fascinated with board books that you read to them when they were toddlers? It's just a short step from that humble beginning, to writing family poems of their own.

The effort they put into it is the real treasure, and lines that are too long, or mismatched in rhythm, really aren't going to be noticed. Encourage them to choose a subject, and give them complete freedom. So what, if Granma's birthday card is all about her hair dye job that didn't quite work out. It's the thought that counts, right?

And while we're on the topic, when was the last time you actually bought a card that really said what you wanted it to? They're either too generic, a little short on real feeling, or enough to give you insulin shock, they're so sweet. You're much better off to make your own cards, using family poems that can be found in books or on the Internet.