What Was Childhood Like In The 1800s?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The lives of all in 1800 were

mundane and difficult

due to family and societal expectations for labor, schooling, and maturity. … Children of the upper class were either taught in private schools or by a tutor. They were taught reading, writing, prayers, and simple math (“Education”) .

What was it like growing up in the 1800's?

Children growing up in the 1800s were

dressed in the same manner as adults and were expected to take on adult responsibilities at an early age

. In the middle to lower class families children went to work as young as six to eight years of age. … Children of the 1800s experienced more death than children do today.

What were kids doing in the 1800s?

Many urban children worked

in factories

; according to the Encarta encyclopedia, children between seven and 12 years of age comprised one-third of the factory workforce at that time. Children commonly found employment in cotton mills, wool mills and paper mills. Children often worked long hours during the day and night.

What did kids in the 1800's do for fun?


Chess, checkers, and backgammon

have been pastimes for older children and adults for hundreds of years. In the 1800s, new board games became popular. They were designed to be played by the entire family.

How were kids raised in the 1800s?

During the early and middle 1800's,

many families operated family farms

. In fact in 1840, 85% of the Illinois work force was farmers. Farm families tended to have many children. Older children were charged with helping to care for the young as well as with many other responsibilities.

What did kids do in the 1860s?

Children — both boys and girls — in the 1860s would usually play with

glass marbles

. Although players competed in tournament marbles in the states, trying out for regional or even national championships, children in the 1860s played with marbles for the simple pleasure of beating their friends.

What did kids do for fun in the 19th century?


Simple toys like spinning tops

were also popular. So were hoops and games like knucklebones and pick up sticks in which you had to pick up colored sticks from a pile without disturbing the others. On Sundays children often played with toys with religious themes like Noah's arks with wooden animals.

How were kids treated in the 1800s?

Children of the time were

either forced to abandon education for their family contributions

, or had to balance school with a full day's work (“Education”). Even when they were not in school or doing manual labor, their day-to-day lives were uncomfortable and harsh (Kids).

What age did kids work in the 1800s?

Child labor was a common practice throughout much of the Industrial Revolution. Estimates show that over 50% of the workers in some British factories in the early 1800s were

under the age of 14

.

What were popular jobs in the 1800s?

What were the most common jobs in the 1800s?

Farmer, Blacksmith, Butcher, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Clock smith, Fisherman, Barber, Doctor, Teacher, Bookmakers, Lawyers, Coach Drivers, and Clerks

. Men and women sometimes shared the same jobs.

What did people do in their free time in the 1800s?


Go to circuses and ride animals

or join their families on vacation with the train. They would also go play the new common sport, football. Many boys would also go to the park or horse riding. When they wouldn't be playing football, they would be playing a board game or a toy they own at home.

What did kids do for fun in the 1890s?

With no TV or radio, families sometimes

played cards or a board game by electric light

. Such lights were increasingly common. Many board games of the time made fun of country bumpkins visiting the city.

How long was the school day in the 1800s?

School days typically started

at 9am and wrapped up at 2pm or 4pm

, depending on the area; there was one hour for recess and lunch, which was called “nooning.”

What did toddlers do in the 1800s?

Before the Victorian era, children as young as 6 or 8 years old might work in a mill or factory, they might

run errands and make deliveries

for a store keeper, they may be apprenticed to a skilled craftsman or woman, or they could be hired out as a servant.

What was motherhood like in the 1800s?

In the 1800s,

mothers had few legal rights to speak of

, but they were idolized as the keepers of American moral values. Women were seen as responsible for raising strong sons who would, in turn, elevate the nation. Things got ugly in the early 1900s.

How old were the youngest Civil War soldiers?

The youngest Union soldier and the youngest soldier to fight in the Civil War was a boy named Edward Black. Edward was born on May 30 in 1853, making him just

8 years old

when he joined the Union army on July 24, 1861 as a drummer boy for the 21st Indiana volunteers.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.