We often hear about the lifestyles of Victorian men and women - endless parties, social occasions and formal outings. But it is less clear what Victorian children did throughout their childhoods. In fact, Victorian children lived as their parents did - in luxury homes with nannies to look after them and many toys to play with. They would often be taken for walks in the park as well as to music festivals and fun carnivals. It is certain their lives were completely different to the lives poor Victorian children lived, which consisted of working in factories and chimney sweeping.
Rich Victorian girls and boys also had very different childhoods, particularly from the age of around 11 or 12. Young Victorian boys would most often be sent to prestigious schools such as Eton as soon as they were old enough, where they would be highly educated in order for them to follow suitable professions in adulthood. They would be encouraged to participate in sports such as cricket and shooting. Victorian girls, on the other hand, would receive much less education (particularly before the 1870 Education act, which required all children from five to 13 to attend school). Instead, they would be kept in the home and taught to become good wives. They would be encouraged to present themselves beautifully and practice good social etiquette. This was done in order for them to secure rich husbands in their later teen years.
Up until the age of around eight to ten, Victorian children would usually be looked after by nannies, perhaps only seeing their parents at mealtimes. They would have daily schedules that included walks in the park, piano lessons and reading, in addition to many changes of clothes. It was considered important to teach the children good manners and for them to be well presented at all times.
They had easy, luxurious lives for the most part... Their families would of course have no trouble for money, so they would dine in style, wear nice clothes and have plenty of toys to play with, such as skipping ropes, spinning tops, rocking horses, hobby horses, wooden and porcelain dolls and such. However they were expected to show great respect for their parents and show good manners. Most were home educated by a governess; for boys it was until ten or twelve years old, when he would go on to a fancy school like Eton. He would be taught things like reading, writing, arithmetic, religion, Greek, Latin, history, and maybe even some business skills. Music and art were things practiced more at home. Girls on the other hand, until later on, were taught more only to sew and to be good housewives and mothers. Few knew how to write unless they were the very Upper class. Boys might also have been taught in the fields of archery, shooting, riding, hunting and other popular rich sports; girls too were fond of their ponies and all children every now and again could fancy a little trip on a boat on their pond.
The children of the rich in Victorian era lived a luxurious life, a life that was opposite to the life of the poor children of that era.
The parents of the rich children were mostly bankers, merchants, civil servants or industrialists. They used to live in beautiful suburbs and sometimes had the luxury of living in private hotels. They were able to go to festivals where one could see the poor children work. The rich boys attended the famous Eton School, which was in front of Windsor in London. But that privilege was not for girls and they were taught only to become good wives and good mothers. This education system was prevalent till 1870 when education act was passed which said that education should be compulsory for all children between the age of 5 and 13.
Life was almost perfect for rich victorian children they had plenty of fine clothes and were fed well .They enjoyed going to festivals and waching the poor children work .Most rich children would of saved there poket money to buy marbles , spinning tops and also skipping ropse.There is not a lot of things what victorian chidren could do as there was actually not much . Well,ive told you all I know and hopefully it helps.
Rich victorian boys went to school and the girls learnt how to be a good wife and lady so that they could carry on the teachings and be good at it in later life
They usually just relaxed not giving a fig about what the poor went through. But there was bad things too, they didn't usually see their parents because the parents would be far to busy getting money and would see the children for about 1 hour before they went to bed. They saw them at church on a Sunday but that was all. They were looked after by a nanny (babysitter) who would make their food and dress them and wash them. The nanny was more like a mother than the mother was. The nanny might have been nice but sometimes parents gave strict rules to her to tell the children off and to cane them but if not she would treat them nicely. They would not have to go to school. Of course they were too posh for that thing so they were home taught by a governess. When the son turned 10 he would go to public school like Eton or Harrow but girls would still be at home to learn how to be a good wife and a mother and more important skills for her long live.
They had good clothes and a lot of money. They had a governess until they were ten. THen they went to schools like Harrow and Eton (boys). They were expected to be polite and well behaved. I wish they were now!
The rich boys attended the famous Eton School, which was in front of Windsor in London. But that privilege was not for girls and they were taught only to become good wives and good mothers
I imagine it was rather pamperd, with nice clothes and toys. Probably had a nanny or nurse of sorts to care for them, The children may have had more contact with the nanny than the mother!. tHEY WOULD HAVE TIME OUTSIDE, USUALLY PLAYING IN THE GARDEN OR TAKING WALKS. wOULD HAVE AN EARLY DINNER, IN THEIR ROOMS WITH THE NANNY AND PUT TO BED LONG BEFORE THE PArentTS HAD DINNER. (sorry for the all caps) The nanny's room probably was adjoined to the children's rooms so she could get to the child in the night if needed. Probably there would have been a private teacher for lessons until the kids were old enough for boarding school, military or finishing schools as the case may be. Without tv, video games and the like, life would have been much different. Toys would have brought out the imagination in the child. Girls would have learned a hobby like needle work, piano and the like/. Boys may have learned things like horse back riding, archery, hunting and business! Girls were treated likeladies, and boys like gentlemen. They lived a genteel life, learning social graces and what not in hopes (by the parents) of finding 'suitable" mates- (rich, good-named families) Hope this helps. I read a lot and love the Victorian era, and live in a city with lots of victorian homes- old historic ones>
Victorian children were treated as 'mini people'. They dressed in the same clothes as adults and were not expected to behave in the manner of a regular child today. The young's riling emotions were not taken into account; they had a certain role they were expected to fulfil and it was, in most cases, done. They had a very luxurious lifestyle, yes, but had an absence of the liberty that we are given today.
Rich victorian children laid back and enjoyed their luxurious life.They usually get spoilt by their parents.They didn't have to work to make a living.They have expensive clothes, comfortable shoes and yummy diners. Rich victorian children were the total opposite to poor victorian children!
I think a few children looked down on the lesser, if they were wealthy, or maybe felt sorry for them. I'm writing a book based on a girl of 13 and her diary, and she lives around this time, so it's helpful to know what she might do, for extra detail. Their breakfasts, if a rich and slightly lazy family, would have consisted of ham, fish, porridge, bread and jam, that sort of thing. And many little boys dressed in girls' clothes til the age of three, and church was a daily activity.
Victorian children didnt do much. They just played with toys and then they grew up, had kids, got married then died and were buried. That is until school was invented.
