"Monday's Child": A Read-Aloud-Rhyme

Click to see Vol. I, Issue 6 of the newsletter in which this article first appeared.

Listen to the audio of this article!

Parents and teachers can read these rhymes aloud, and encourage little ones to repeat and even memorize them (I did when I was a kid!)

In simpler days, a Mother Goose rhyme tried to predict what a child's character would be, based on the day of the week he or she was born.

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath Day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Some words to talk about:

• fair: pretty; good-looking
• gay: happy; lively
• grace: pleasant behavior; beauty of movement
• Sabbath Day: Sunday
• woe: sorrow

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ACTIVITIES

For younger kids:

Here are simplified versions of what the rhyme says about the child for each day. Work with your kid to match the day to its description. Correct answers are in the first comment below.

1. Monday
2. Tuesday
3. Wednesday
4. Thursday
5. Friday
6. Saturday
7. Sunday

A. kind
B. pleasant to be with
C. good in every way
D. sad
E. hardworking
F. good looking
G. must work extra hard, but will be a big success

For older kids:

Here's the same kind of exercise, but this time, an example of each child's personality is given.

1. Monday
2. Tuesday
3. Wednesday
4. Thursday
5. Friday
6. Saturday
7. Sunday

A. Susan likes to give small gifts to friends.
B. Evan just can't seem to catch a break, no matter what he does.
C. People are always asking to take Mark's picture.
D. People are always asking Marian for advice.
E. Joy is an actress, singer, dancer--it seems she can do anything.
F. Bill has a huge house and several luxury cars.
G. Brad often stays late at the office.

Discussion: Do you really think that all people born on the same day of the week have the same personality? Think of some of your friends: which type of child are they? Find out what day they were born, and see if it works!