Does your adult DC in their 20's know about the Channel Islands?

[thelionscake]

I'm from Jersey and just wondered how much visibility the Islands have in the UK from younger people now. I was speaking to a young person recently from the UK who instantly thought about the state of New Jersey in the USA when I said the word "Jersey".

Yes but my sister lived in Jersey when they were young.

I doubt it to be honest. I’ll ask them when they get home.

I spent 2 years pre-kids working in Jersey on secondment. Very happy times and taken the kids to visit several times, so yes, very much on DC’s radar!

My 14 and 17 year old know about the Channel Islands but would probably firstly think of New Jersey if someone said Jersey. A lot of people in the UK would probably think of Washington DC if you mentioned Washington but my DS works in Washington, England. I suppose its which one they hear about more regularly.

Visited Guernsey and Sark with both DC.

We all loved them. Would definitely go back.

How can people not have heard of the channel Islands?

Would love to visit Alderney too.

Yes, of course, because they're not fucking idiots.

Yes mine are well travelled as are my teenage Grandchildren..also well educated in Geography.

DS is a WWII buff so is aware of the Channel Islands, their location (the clue very much in the name) and their occupation by the Germans but couldn't actually name them and wasn't clear on their legal status (in common with the majority of the UK population I suspect).

He'd heard of Jersey, but didn't know it was in the CIs.

In random conversation people associate the more well known location...

For example my friend lives in Wales... as in the village in South Yorkshire. No one tends to think that if you mention Wales!

My son chose to holiday last year to Jersey with a friend . He was 25 at that time .
im quite jealous as I’ve never been

I can’t answer for my grownup children but I doubt that thoughts about the CI ever entered their consciousness.

I’m quite old, I know they exist and that they are part of the UK but somehow separate. But I’m not actually sure of their precise status.

sorry!! I’m sure they are lovely 😊

Mine would but then he's got great general knowledge all round - geography, history, science, media - astounds me what he knows-

Go over to tiktok and you'll get all sorts of comments educating, arguing with each other about the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and the British isles. I doubt anyone on here will admit that their kids don't know 😄.

The thing is OP do you want to know if people's kids know about the Channel Islands or if their first thought on hearing Jersey would be the Channel Island or the state? Because they are two different questions most likely with two different answers.

I live in the Channel Islands too and when I first moved over (20 years ago) from the UK I found a lot of people my age and older didn't know one from the other, or were only vaguely aware of them at all.

I've met people all over the world in the most unlikely places that do know about them though! A check in agent for BA in JFK was keen to tell me how much she loves Jersey when she saw my passport, someone in South Africa stopped me to talk having seen the flag badge I had sewn on my backpack, and a TukTuk driver in Portugal asked where we were from and proceeded to tell us about the TikToker he follows that lives here.

I once had a stand up argument with a history teacher(!) who claimed a lot of good young British Men had died defending the islands in WWII!

at least mine have better manners than some posters.

My 19 yo DS knows about Jersey. He was born there and we left when he was 8. 😊
But to answer your question seriously: we are in Canada now, and in my line of work I meet a lot of young adults from the UK. They have all known where Jersey is.

I'm not young enough to answer your question (and don't have kids) but wanted to tell you that I visited Jersey for the first time this year and loved it.

I've lived in Alderney and now live in Jersey, so my boys definitely know about all the islands.
They also know they were born in the UK and sometimes ask to go back!

My 18 year old son probably knows more than me (I’m not sure what is involved in knowing about Jersey?), my 21 year old daughter is probably clueless about both Jersey and New Jersey, it’s a wonder she manages to get anywhere, she’s quite geographically challenged.

I have 2 teenage DCs and we went on holiday to Jersey several years ago so yes they know about the Channel Islands, some of the history about WW2 and have lovely memories of seeing gorillas, playing on the beach and a wonderful lavender farm!

I would have been really shocked if my daughter hadn't known the main Channel Islands or where they were by the time she had started secondary school.

I have a relative living there so my DC age 19 & 21 are aware of the Channel Islands! Still not had the chance to go though my parents & some other family have!

Yes, we've holidayed there, but not since they were wee. Would like to go back some time.

I’m fairly sure most Brits know where Jersey and the Channel Islands are. But I’d venture to guess that few would know much more about them.