Looking west at 6:30 a. , are highlighted. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Although the Victorian era was a period of extreme social inequality, industrialisation brought about rapid changes in everyday life that affected all classes. Census records. 1 What was it like to be a rich child in the Victorian times? The rich were getting richer and the poor, poorer. As unbelievable as it sounds, sometimes even 4 or 5 years old. Children got a good education either by going away to school or having a governess who taught them at home (this is usually how girls were educated). Write an entry in your diary about how you plan to spend the summer holidays. children was called a nanny.Rich families had large houses, with a We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. 29. Rich Victorians always had servants. West Virginia becomes a foliage fanatic's paradise in the fall, fit for the whole family. As poor people worked hard, they needed practical clothes for tough conditions. <> These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Victorian Children. Did it get any better? The best-known Victorian scientific development is that of the theory of evolution. Pupils had to chant things (the times-table facts, for example) out loud until they could do it without making a mistake. Babies in over-crowded and damp housing were the most at risk from diarrhoea and tuberculosis. On the other hand their family life was tighter knit and more loving. The Victorian age was the first in which childhood was recognised as a distinct and precious phase in life. They would instruct the nanny what they wanted to have instilled into their children such as manners, education, propriety, how to dress and so on. Servants in Victorian England were a small step up from abject poverty as they generally had quarters and food from the household they looked after, but they generally lived a difficult life of constant work and servitude. Emily suddenly sees Miss Stevens in a different light, as a rather sorry and lonely figure, without a family of her own. What was life like for the upper class in the Victorian era? Victorian England was a mans world. Wealthy people could also afford to buy beautiful clothes. Young children were forced to work as soon as they were old enough to earn money for their families.Many children died of disease. They still had plenty of ways to amuse themselves though. Life as a Victorian servant was very hard and unforgiving, involving long hours with very few days off and basic living conditions. For the poor Victorian Children life was much different. Forced to fend for themselves, many families endured such extreme poverty that their children's wages were indeed crucial to their survival. These are just a few examples, read on to discover more about the comparison between rich and poor Victorians during this fascinating period. This was followed by a light lunch and afternoon tea. Poor children usually had marbles made of clay while the rich kids might have marbles made from real marble. The nanny was responsible for the childrens daily activities. Cooks, butlers, gardeners, housemaids, nannies and governesses were employed by this social class. 5 to 9 year old Chimney sweeps would come out of a chimney covered from head to toe with soot. How many times did Queen Victoria visit Ireland? Boys wore dresses until they were about five years old. George Edwards, a child who used to work as a farmboy, worked for a man who "never missed an opportunity to thrash me." 6 George had never fussed about it because he assumed all boys were treated like that at his age. 3) Victorian schools were tough for children. the morning and evening, and were looked after mostly by their Victorian Era England Lifestyles were quite diverse depending on where you lived and how much money you had. She appreciates that she is fortunate to have a comfortable lifebut Victorian attitudes towards the poor were rather muddled. They didnt have toys to play with but sometimes made their own. Theatres, music halls, libraries, museums and art galleries were built in every major town and many minor ones, often founded by a new breed of philanthropist. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Victoria, in full Alexandrina Victoria, (born May 24, 1819, Kensington Palace, London, Englanddied January 22, 1901, Osborne, near Cowes, Isle of Wight), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837-1901) and empress of India (1876-1901). Home Victoria What Was Being A Child Like In The Victorian Age? The lifestyle of a child during the Victorian era was decided on the basis of the house he was born in. With the Industrial Revolution, which started in the middle of the century, came new machinery that saved time and made some people very wealthy. How big was the average family in Victorian times? Water St. For a complete list of Christmas on the Comstock events, tickets, and other seasonal specials and offers honored throughout town, get in touch with the Virginia City Visitor Center at (775) 847-7500. The working class saw games and entertainment as a way of escaping their repetitive routine of continuous hard work. They often worked in very dangerous conditions resulting in injuries or even death. 3 What was life like as a rich Victorian child? On the other hand, they believed firmly in stiff punishments. Rich people could afford lots of treats like holidays, fancy clothes, and even telephones when they were invented. Children got a good education either by going away to school or having a governess who taught them at home (this is usually how girls were educated). Victorian children would be made to go to work at a very young age. In the final episode Emily is granted a rare treat: a visit to the seaside, albeit in the company of her mother and Miss Stevens. How Bram Stokers visit to the town of Whitby provided him with atmospheric locations for a Gothic novel and a name for his famous vampire. They only had a few outfits, and they were lucky if they had a smarter option for special occasions. This was a sharp contrast to the overcrowded and unhealthy conditions of the working and poor classes of this time. Children from rich families played with rocking horses, train sets, dolls houses and toy soldiers, whereas children from poor families tended to play with home-made toys such as peg dolls, spinning tops and skipping ropes. These houses had ample space for the family, which averaged between four to six children, and the servants. Its sweetened with golden syrup which was mass produced in the late 1800s, making it affordable to all. Many Londoners died from illnesses such as cholera, measles and scarlet fever. Children from working class families Children from rich families; had few luxuries. Many children died of disease. Immigration brought many people from Ireland, Italy and Eastern Europe. In the evening Emily is allowed downstairs to show her parents her sampler and to say good-night. Nannies were usually older women that had never been married. Most Victorians them for walks in the park or to the zoo. Sources: Children were mostly raised by a nanny who would teach the child what was proper and what was not. This glorious sponge pudding was easy to make with minimal ingredients. What was life like for Victorian orphans? On 4 July 1838 26 children were drowned when the Huskar Pit (mine) flooded. The Victorian Houses that are so popular today with all their splendor and decorative trimmings only tell a small part of how Victorian children lived. There was no technology and no 'fun' activities. Outdoor and Indoor Games Many families played soccer, badminton, battledore and shuttlecock. Not surprisingly, the children of the slums were undernourished, anaemic, rickety and very short. Overseas trade and an extensive commercial infrastructure made Britain in the 19th century the most powerful trading nation in the world. But there was still no cure for most diseases and life expectancy remained low. These people inherited their titles, their homes and their money from other members of their family. "Life expectancy at birth for the average Victorian was about 42, and more than 25 per cent of children died before their fifth birthday. Victorian Children. Reception rooms were high-ceilinged and designed to impress guests. Any attempts to organise labour, however, were banned by law until late in the century. Keen to display their affluence, and with the leisure to enjoy it, the newly rich required a never-ending supply of novelties from the countrys factories and workshops: new colours for ladies clothes (such as mauve), new toys for their children, fine cutlery from Sheffield, silverware from factories like JW Evans in Birmingham, dinner and tea services from the Staffordshire Potteries, and plate glass from Liverpool. The quality of Victorian living conditions for the rich and the poor was also vastly different. The nanny was in effect a substitute parent. Since a large part of the poor children had to work public jobs to help support their families many parents thought of children as income, and having more children who worked raised the income of the home. The moral tales of the start of the period were supplemented by animal stories (such as Black Beauty), stirring adventures (like Treasure Island), and the eccentric brilliance of Alices Adventures in Wonderland, all of which would inspire childrens literature in the 20th century. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. Victorian pupils also received lessons in history and geography. At the start of the Victorian era, very few children actually attended school. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwglIviFj4E. Wealth in 1800 was owning land, which is pretty amazing. Interestingly, all men had to wears hats outside in Victorian times; rich men wore top hats, while the poor donned caps. As a result, many could not go to school. This was often at the For parents of large families who could barely afford enough food, paying a penny a week for their children to go to school was a great expense. They had servants to do everything for them, and they could afford to buy expensive things. Lets Take a Look At Some Of The Victorian Toys and Victorian Games. They had more than one bathroom and even had flushing toilets. creative tips and more. % 4 How big was the average family in Victorian times? Some lessons were called object lessons. 3 0 obj What are the disadvantages of a clapper bridge? A series of Factory Acts from the 1830s onwards progressively limited the number of hours that women and children could be expected to work. Outdoors, Victorian children played with toys like hoops, marbles and skipping ropes, with friends in the street, or in the school playground. They were all under three years old. A further look into child labor and working conditions can be found here. Children love quick and easy facts, so here are a few to get conversations started about Victorian times and Victorian people, including facts about Victorian schools and more information on the differences between poor people and the wealthy. This class was divided into three subcategories: Royal, those who came from a royal family, Middle Upper, important officers and lords, and Lower Upper, wealthy men and business owners (Victorian England Social Hierarchy). This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for, Rich And Poor Victorians (KS2): A Comparison. In the nursery younger children ate, played and Womens rights were extremely limited in this era, losing ownership of their wages, all of their physical property, excluding land property, and all other cash they generated once married. Many times nannies were intolerant and very strict and sometimes plain mean. 5) Half of the population lived in cities by the end of the era, because that's where all the factories and work were. Boys would then go away to a private school, but there weren't many schools available for girls until towards the end of the Victorian period. There were many new sports, such as lawn tennis and croquet, and old sports with newly defined rules, such as rugby, football and cricket. revolting! This lead to major problems with overcrowding and poverty. The poor children had to work public jobs for their families to survive. Wealthy people could also afford to buy beautiful clothes. Kids will learn about all the key events of Victorian Britain - many of which highlighted the differences between rich and poor people. Victorian Era Automata Toys. Emily is in the school room with Miss Stevens playing her scales on the piano. after mostly by their nanny and by other servants. The women were expected to marry, have children, and keep a nice household. The Osborne Style: From Naples to Melbourne, The Dilessi Massacre and a Gothic Revival Masterpiece, https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm, LEARN ABOUT LIFE BELOW STAIRS AT AUDLEY END. From the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837 to her death in 1901, what it meant to be a child transformed dramaticallya process that Alice's Adventures in Wonderland both marked and took in new directions by presenting a fresh example of active, questioning girlhood. These pastimes werent just for the wealthy even the working class could enjoy them. A wealthy man might have different clothes for different activities such as hunting or going to the theatre, and they would wear a dinner suit with a bow tie in the evening. Life for Victorian children was very different from our lives today. Wealthy Victorian Children rarely communicated with their parents except for a specified time each day. Mum to a chatty toddler (and a middle-aged cat), if she's not being forced to sing nursery rhymes she can be found watching live sport with a nice cup of tea. Well, we doubt you or your child would have liked it much. Girls played with dolls and tea sets whilst boys played with toy soldiers and marbles. Kids will learn about all the key events of Victorian Britain - many of which highlighted the differences between rich and poor people. Victorian children would be made to go to work at a very young age. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Poor families made their own, such as cloth-peg dolls and paper windmills. called the nursery. Both poor Victorian children and adults had to work in workplaces such as mines, mills, factories or workhouses for little money (yet some of the wealthy didn't need to work at all). To improve security and online experience, please use a different browser or, Luxuries were not available to the millions of working poor, who toiled for long hours in mills (like. Some classes, particularly in the cities, had as many as 70 or 80 pupils. Matthew Thompson told the inquiry he "couldn . Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. By the 1880s and 1890s, however, most people were benefiting from cheaper imported food and other goods. Sports were popular rugby, football, cycling and the growth of the train network meant that it was much easier for people to travel. At the beginning of Victorias reign it was fashionable to wear a crinoline under a skirt. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Q: What was life like for poor servants in Victorian England? Poor mindsets focus on the risks. As many as 15 members of a family might share one room. Parents would hire a nanny or nurse to do the brunt of the child rearing. Victorian Britain was both the greatest power in the world and the least militarised. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Those were the only acceptable roles for women during that era. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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