Childhood in the Victorian era?

Question: Childhood in the Victorian era!?

What was life like for the under 18's in the Victorian era of England!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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It would vary considerably depending on the class of the child, and the period of the era (the Victorian era stretched from 1837 to 1901!.

The children of the poor would possibly attend school for a few years, but would be expected to start work as soon as they were old enough!. The age at which children could begin working was restricted during the course of the Victorian period by various acts of parliament!. More provision for education for poor children was also made, so that by the end of the century, almost all children were guaranteed at least a minimal basic education!. Children might start work at ten or twelve years old depending on the age restrictions of the time!. They might go into factories or work in shops or at various trades!. If they were boys they might work down the mines!. A lot of girls would go into domestic service, and some boys would also work as servants!. boys who lived in the country would go to work on farms or be apprenticed to trades like blacksmith, thatcher, builder etc!. Country girls would most likely go into domestic service!.

children of the lower middle classes, shopkeepers, clerks, etc, would probably stay at school longer than the children of the poor, and they might go to a grammer school!. They would often be going to go into the family business whatever it might be, sons and possibly daughters would work in their father's shops etc!. A boy whose father was a clerk might follow him into the same office!. during the later part of the century more girls began to be employed in offices, especially after the invention of the typewriter!.

The children of the upper middle and upper classes were often looked after by nannies when they were small, a special room called the nursery would be provided where they would be epxected to spend most of their time, have their meals etc!. Some parents spent more time with their children than others, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for instance were very involved with their children, and played with them and took a lot of interest in them!. Some parents were less involved, just as today, attitudes towards children could vary a lot!. Generally speaking, children were expected to be polite and obedient, though just as today not all conformed to the ideal!.

The children of the middle classes might attend day schools, or they might be sent away to boarding school!. girls were often educated at home by governesses, but by the end of the century schools for girls were increasingly popular and most would attend school rather than being taught at home!. Upper class children likewise might be taught at home, or go to boarding school!.

Because there were few forms of ready-made home entertainment, children were often taught to play a musical instrument, the piano was particularly popular, almost every hosuehold who could afford it would have one, and the daughters in particular would learn to play it!. Dancing classes were another activity that children were often obliged to attend, being able to dance was important for social activity when they were grown up!.

There were plenty of toys available for those who could afford them, boys played with toy soldiers, and girls with dolls and dolls houses!. Ball games were popular then just as now, and skipping was popular with girls!. Children would read books, and play board games, and do painting and drawing!. girls would usually learn to sew, and would often do embroidery!. If they lived in the country, well-off children would probably learn to ride and have ponies, and they would have the freedom to roam the countryside!.

Christmas was a very big occasion in victorian times, the christmas tree became very popular in this era, and children would look forward to hanging up their stockings and finding them filled with stockings on christmas morning!. christmas dinner, with turkey and plumb pudding, would be a big occasion!. Many poor children would go carol singing, it was a good way to earn some money!.

The end of october/beginning of November was anotehr time when children would earn some money by making figures of Guy Fawkes and going round with them demanding 'a penny for the Guy'!. On 5th November (Guy Fawkes day) the guys would be burnt on bonfires and fireworks would be let off!.

Summer holidays really became popular in the victorian era, it became customary to take the children to stay at the seaside!. Even poor families could often afford a day trip to the seaside!.

One way poor people could get a kind of holiday was by going hop picking!. families from the East end of London would go and stay in Kent and pick hops (used for making beer)!. They would get accomodation and a small wage, and it was a way of getting to stay in the country and get some fresh air!. The mothers would pick hops, and the children would help with the picking and play!. Fathers might come down from work at the weekend!.

P!.S!. Jane Austen did not really write much about the middle classes, her characters are upper class rather than middle!.

I have listed below some interesting books that describe the childhoods of various people who were children in the Victorian era!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Children in the Victorian era didn't have much in the way of a childhood!. They were expected to be seen and not heard!.

The upper classes expected them to behave like small adults!. They were even dressed much like adults with the exception of wearing shorter versions of adult clothing!.

Lower class children were expected to work from a young age and education was a luxury!. They worked as long or longer hours than adults and many were injured badly in jobs because of a lack of supervision and having to do "adult" work!.

Infant mortality was high and orphans were often put in work houses to earn their keep!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This comes under the category of Social history, a fairly new field, finding books about it can be hard!.

Generally, children were the property of their parents!. How children were treated depended a great deal on the social and economic situation of their parents!. The English divided their world into three classes of people!. You would have to learn about how each of those classes treated their children!.

Poor children were not required to attend school as the income they earned was necessary to support the family!. Sunday school was originally developed to teach basic reading and writing to the children of the poor!. Children started to work as young as 4 or 5!. Some jobs were only performed by children, chimney sweep, for instance!. You should be able to find lots of information about the treatment of sweeps since the very first child labor laws were passed for their protection!.

Boys were often hired to work in mines pulling carts through small tunnels - again, you should be able to find information about this job online!. It was another one used to pass child labor laws!. (These children were replaced by Shetland ponies, when the labor laws were passed)

Girls and boys frequently worked in the textile mills of the Victorian era!. Small hands were deemed best at some of the delicate tasks!. Many of the mill jobs were 12 hours a day, 6 days a week!.

In contrast, upper class boys were schooled at home until they were considered old enough to attend school (in the US, we would call them boarding schools)!. When it was decided that they were old enough (graduation wasn't really an issue) they would then make a "grand tour" of Europe to see all the capitols and make themselves "a man of the world!."

Professions entered by the Upper class were generally political, religious, or military!. In the early Victorian period nearly all of the positions in these professions were bought and paid for!. For instance, if a young man wanted to enter the military, he would pay for a commission which would guarantee him a particular income as long as he was actively serving!. If he was no longer actively serving, he was on "half pay" If he wanted a promotion, he simply bought a different commission and sold his old one!.

At home, upper class children were "attended" by servants specially hired to perform child care; nannies, nurses, tutors, & governesses!. Upper class children generally saw their parents infrequently and only under controlled circumstances!. (After dinner, the children might be brought downstairs to spend and hour or so with their parents)

Upper class girls were usually educated at home although a few were also sent to school - girls were more likely to attend "finishing" schools and started attendance at a later age than boys!. Instead of academic subjects, they were taught the "finer" skills of foreign languages, music, needlework, etiquette, and dancing in these schools!.

The life of the middling classes - those people who fell somewhere inbetween these two extremes is where the information is really hard to find!. Jane Austin is a bit early, but at least she wrote about these people!.

I hope this helped,Www@QuestionHome@Com

Many of them had a rough life!. See below!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Those whoe were about 6 would work in the cotton mills, sewing factories or coal mines!. In the victorian ere the Industrial revolution occured so thats what the kids were doing !. Kids that were younger than six would be home alone!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

http://www!.freeessays!.cc/db/18/ehc33!.sht!.!.!.
I'm sure the rich were treated differentlyWww@QuestionHome@Com

kids had to go off and work
be slaves and get bad jobs like chimney sweeps
some kids were sold so their parents could get money
bad times bak thenWww@QuestionHome@Com

dude its summer why in the world are u doing work for!?!?!?
go to the beach or somthin!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com