Teaching Shakespeare to Kids
When I was a teenager, I spent a summer in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it changed the way I see Shakespeare forever. That summer was packed with theater: Shakespeare in the Arb had us following actors scene by scene through the forest. We watched the amazing black-and-white version of Much Ado About Nothing at the Michigan Theater, and we sat under the open sky for Macbeth at Shakespeare in the Park. It was pure bliss, and it planted a love for Shakespeare that’s still with me today. Before each play, my mom and I would pore over SparkNotes so we could follow along, which made the performances even more enjoyable.
Now that I have two daughters (ages 5 and 8), I want them to catch that joy early, but not through heavy analysis. They don’t need to understand every nuance right now. My goal is to make Shakespeare fun, approachable, and memorable. At this stage, we focus on the heart of the story, bits of language, and the experiences that make it come alive.
Resources We Use
The Usborne Complete Shakespeare: Stories from All the Plays by Anna Milbourne. This is our main resource. Short but rich retellings with famous quotes and beautiful illustrations. Perfect for ages 5–10.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig. His method makes memorizing Shakespeare playful and stress free.
Our Approach to a Play
Read the Story: We start with the Usborne retelling, talk about the plot, characters, and setting. We usually read it all in one sitting because it’s so engaging. We sometimes print out puppets from this etsy shop to color and cut out, and we reenact the play together.
Copywork and Memorization: Each girl chooses a favorite line to copy. Then we use Ludwig’s techniques to memorize a short passage. When we studied As You Like It, we learned and memorized “All the world’s a stage.”
Bring It to Life with Food: Food is a big part of our Shakespeare fun. For As You Like It, we made Elizabethan pancakes for Pancake Day and French crepes since the play is set in France.
Tie It to the Season: We celebrate the summer solstice with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During the month of October, I set my girls up with potion making supplies and they stir up “witches’ brew” for Macbeth and recite the famous Witch’s lines.
See It Performed: When we can, we attend our local Shakespeare festival. Live theater helps the language click and creates an unforgettable experience!
By turning Shakespeare into playtime, food, and live events, we create memories instead of lessons. Shakespeare becomes a family adventure, not a school subject. I want my girls to see the plays as old friends, full of humor, beauty, and meaning.
One of my favorite things about Shakespeare is that it’s timeless. The words I fell in love with as a teenager in Michigan are the same ones I now hear my daughters giggling over as they stir potions or copy a favorite line. We’re not just studying plays, we’re building family traditions, and layering rich, beautiful language into our days. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Shakespeare with your kids, start with one story, one line, or even one small tradition. Those little seeds can grow into something beautiful.
