Page 15 | To be shocked that not even one y4 child knew the meaning of the word velvet?

Utterlybananas333 · 2026-01-01T17:09:00+00:00

My sister is a teacher in a South London primary school, she is a year four teacher of around 30 8 to 9-year-olds. She was recently describing her disbelief over the fact that not a single child knew what velvet meant? There were some crazy guesses, and lots of children who thought it was cake (probably relating to red velvet). Is it just the fact that children and adults don't talk anymore? That nobody reads anymore? Or even watches educational TV programs? Would your child know?

Bepo77 · 01/01/2026 20:06

PalmTreesandPinaColada123 · 01/01/2026 17:16

To be fair, who wears velvet anymore? Why would they know such a random word?

This!

Grumblies · 01/01/2026 20:05

TheKeatingFive · 01/01/2026 20:04

I don't have any velvet Christmas decorations. Is this unusual?

Show quote history

Me either. I'm finding it fascinating that people are so shocked that some of us have no velvet items in our homes. I wouldn't have thought it that unusual.

TheKeatingFive · 01/01/2026 20:05

KnickerlessParsons · 01/01/2026 20:03

Yes! But I’m old too.

what about taffeta? My mother made me a lovely taffeta and velvet party dress when I was about 8 or 9

Show quote history

Personally I know about taffeta from reading ballet shoes. It doesn't come up much in modern parlance.

MadKittenWoman · 01/01/2026 20:05

I’m wearing velvet pyjamas!

TheKeatingFive · 01/01/2026 20:04

ByUmberSloth · 01/01/2026 20:02

My 5 year old twins know what velvet is. This isn’t a brag, it’s not much to brag about but we talk constantly about anything and everything, point everything out, explain and encourage questions. So their vocab and understanding of the world around them is good. I don’t think it’s that old fashioned a material and yes it is a bit odd that older children wouldn’t know what it is. In fact just talking about Christmas decorations this year meant velvet was brought up in conversation.

I don't have any velvet Christmas decorations. Is this unusual?

Pogpog21 · 01/01/2026 20:03

Does she work at a poor performing school? It can only be reflective of the parents? The children can’t be expected to know things if their parents and children don’t teach them…

KnickerlessParsons · 01/01/2026 20:03

Daisymay8 · 01/01/2026 17:20

Different generations -I’m 70 -does everyone know what gabardine or cavalry twill is?

Yes! But I’m old too.

what about taffeta? My mother made me a lovely taffeta and velvet party dress when I was about 8 or 9

Grumblies · 01/01/2026 20:02

katepilar · 01/01/2026 20:01

I find this shocking.

Show quote history

You find the fact two 8 year olds don't know what velvet is shocking? Really?

ByUmberSloth · 01/01/2026 20:02

My 5 year old twins know what velvet is. This isn’t a brag, it’s not much to brag about but we talk constantly about anything and everything, point everything out, explain and encourage questions. So their vocab and understanding of the world around them is good. I don’t think it’s that old fashioned a material and yes it is a bit odd that older children wouldn’t know what it is. In fact just talking about Christmas decorations this year meant velvet was brought up in conversation.

GoldMerchant · 01/01/2026 20:02

ManyPigeons · 01/01/2026 19:28

Well yes because we call turnips ‘swede’ in England. Turnip is what the Scots call it.

Show quote history

In England, turnip and swede are different vegetables. So I (English) would have known turnip as a child and probably could have described it as "a bit like a swede". I'm not sure my DS could describe either.

LottieMary · 01/01/2026 20:02

My nieces do as they like party dresses and my son because I do!!

Ryej · 01/01/2026 20:01

Jamandtoastfortea · 01/01/2026 19:56

It’s just been Christmas, velvet dresses are everywhere. Plus velvet party shoes, velvet cushions, velvety trimmed coats, even Sainsburys was packed with ladies velvet trousers, jackets, shirts etc. There are even velvet Xmas tree decs, need I go on?

Show quote history

I haven’t seen anyone dressed in velvet dresses or any of the other things listed 🤷‍♀️

katepilar · 01/01/2026 20:01

Didimum · 01/01/2026 17:48

Why is that shocking? It’s not a common word. I have a velvet sofa and some velvet dresses, but I don’t think my two 8yr olds know what it is.

I find this shocking.

PeanutButter82 · 01/01/2026 20:01

Just asked my 8 year old DD and she described it and then listed the several items in her wardrobe that are velvet - we are obviously very much out of fashion!

Sootybear · 01/01/2026 20:00

When only 1 in 5 children read daily it's not surprising that children's vocabulary is so limited. Reading a wide variety of books, exposes you to so many more words than your ordinary daily conversations. For example, Peter Rabbit has the word soporific in it, even the Mr Men books have words like extraordinary. Fact books expose children to huge amounts of vocabulary. That's why reading is so important.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 01/01/2026 19:59

My two would have known but probably only because we were given some velvet curtains by my parents when we moved house.
Not sure they would have known otherwise.

PrincessofWells · 01/01/2026 19:58

BunnyLake · 01/01/2026 19:51

I love velvet lol. I have a black velvet trouser suit. Admittedly bought about twenty five year’s ago but looks as good as new.

Show quote history

I have a chocolate velvet coat, promenade style, it's lovely. The modern designers seem to have forgotten bust and waist darts 😔

Hippywannabe · 01/01/2026 19:58

I am really surprised- I am sure the word velvet is in one of the RWI colour storybooks and so I am pretty sure most of my class would know. I will ask next week!

TheKeatingFive · 01/01/2026 19:57

Jamandtoastfortea · 01/01/2026 19:56

It’s just been Christmas, velvet dresses are everywhere. Plus velvet party shoes, velvet cushions, velvety trimmed coats, even Sainsburys was packed with ladies velvet trousers, jackets, shirts etc. There are even velvet Xmas tree decs, need I go on?

Show quote history

Well not really. I can't remember the last time I or anyone in my family wore a velvet dress. Or any of the other things you've name checked here.

mathanxiety · 01/01/2026 19:57

Jamandtoastfortea · 01/01/2026 19:56

It’s just been Christmas, velvet dresses are everywhere. Plus velvet party shoes, velvet cushions, velvety trimmed coats, even Sainsburys was packed with ladies velvet trousers, jackets, shirts etc. There are even velvet Xmas tree decs, need I go on?

Show quote history

Agree, and I even saw velvet pumpkins earlier in the year.

mathanxiety · 01/01/2026 19:56

SouthernNights59 · 01/01/2026 19:50

I would say it very much is a lack of reading. There are lots of things I have never seen but I know what they are because I have always read a lot.

Show quote history

Agree.

This is the kind of word you find in a book. I remember looking up 'organza' when I was reading 'Ballet Shoes' in the 1970s, a decade when very few people wore anything made out of organza, and the word was not likely to come up in general conversation.

Jamandtoastfortea · 01/01/2026 19:56

Ryej · 01/01/2026 17:20

I don’t think it’s that shocking tbh, I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone wearing velvet. It’s a pretty random thing to know at that age, an obscure fabric.

It’s just been Christmas, velvet dresses are everywhere. Plus velvet party shoes, velvet cushions, velvety trimmed coats, even Sainsburys was packed with ladies velvet trousers, jackets, shirts etc. There are even velvet Xmas tree decs, need I go on?

Scorchio84 · 01/01/2026 19:55

LancashireButterPie · 01/01/2026 19:51

My kids knew what velvet was as their Dad has a velvet dinner jacket and they'd know that deer had a different type of velvet on their antlers.

DH is a teacher and had a surprise a few years ago when he took out a group of private school kids on a nature trip and only half the kids knew what a nettle was. He discovered this when one child touched a nettle, developed a rash and went straight to the conclusion that they were about to die from anaphylaxis.

I think I only really ever knew velvet because of various photos of my dad playing at gigs in his velvet dinner jackets & bow ties.. maybe that explains my aversion?😊 I didn't feel an antler until I was an adult but I love how they feel & yet can't bear velvet/velour near me

MayIDestroyYou · 01/01/2026 19:55

@Pineappleice43 we’re talking about year 4, not 4 year olds!

SunnyKoala · 01/01/2026 19:55

I only read the first page but my year 4 says: Velvet- kind of fabric
Handkerchief - what you blow your nose with
Banister - you hold it coming down the stairs