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

[Utterlybananas333]

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?

Hardly yesteryear, you'll find at the very least a velvet scrunchie in any high street outlet. What word do they use to refer to things that are velvet then? Kids sections have velvet pumps/shoes/dresses

The evidence points to the same conclusions

What conclusions?

My 7 yr old wouldn't know as it's not a fabric we really use any more. And we definitely talk!

She'd be more likely to tell you it was a thing you do to chicken sometimes before you cook it!

Definitely is.

I think it’s one of those fabrics that goes in and out of fashion regularly. It’s definitely been in fashion this winter season. I remember when I was 16 back in 85’ and I went to a public school ball and there was a chap in a navy velvet tux and he looked ridiculous. It was just was so out of fashion then. If somebody rocked up in that now, they’d be considered edgy and cool. It’s also a difficult fabric to wear as it’s thick and adds bulk.

Oh! He must have been making the connection between mischief/monkey and handkerchief! Funny how minds work.

I'm Gen X and both my parents (Silent Generation) were dedicated handkerchief users, whereas my sister and I only ever use one if we have a cold. But my parents always had one on them.

Silk velvet doesn’t as much.

Cotton velvet does. Actually cotton velvet is called velveteen. Only silk is actually velvet.

Now I’ve written velvet too much and it looks weird.

Ive noticed that children's books are often updated to exclude any language not in common usage.

I read the 90's editions of Enid blyton which were full if mysterious, exotic words such as "jersey, windbeater, slacks" which i, as a 90s kid had never heard of, but i sort of figured it out. These words are missing from the 2020s versions which I dont think is necessary.

With that age group, I wonder if there might have been one or two pupils who actually knew what it was (because of baby toys or blankets) but didn’t want to say when they realised their peers didn’t know in case it outed them as still having a comfort blanket/toy at home.

There's loads of velvet around these days - coats, jackets, sofas, dresses. It's hardly a yesteryear fabric.

The BPVS!

Perhaps some kids will think velvet is something to do with hot chocolate, as in Hotel Chocolat's "Velvetiser". One reference to velvet I do remember as child was in the Ladybird book of Oliver Twist: "they saw a gentleman standing at the bookstall who looked very prosperous. He wore gold spectacles and a velvet jacket." (Those books were great for really obscure words: another phrase I remember was "to no avail".) Yes, I have a very vivid memory of my childhood.

Wasn't there a game show hosted by Ronnie Corbett which was all about adults guessing whether children knew certain words? "Do you think he knows what a bachelor is?" "Do you think she knows what a saveloy is?"

I remember sneaky ways that teachers at primary expanded our vocabulary. Everything in the classroom was labelled, including the different fabrics. And in a maths exercise on shopping, involving working our what we spent, the list of items was headed "Haberdashery", with things like crochet hooks. I had no idea what these things were, but that wasn't the point of the exercise. But there are lots of fabric words I didn't know until I was an adult: gingham, corduroy, tartan, denim, and there are probably many others I've never heard of.

When I was a driving instructor, I remember a young woman who didn't know what a ford was. She knew what a Ford was, though. (A car!)

@MrsKateColumbo I give you another Enid Blyton word: sou'-wester. Do the younger Mumsnetters know what it is? No googling allowed!

It's very snobby of you to deride women's magazines as "ghastly stuff." Of course they're not ghastly. They may not be to your taste, but lots of people enjoy them. I have found them full of useful knowledge.

I have a 9 year old in year 4. He reads books called dogman and bunny vs monkey. Velvet seems more like a word from Enid Blyton, about a little girl with a velvet ribbon in her hair or something. He does read though and adults do talk to him.

I'd ask him about velvet now but he's asleep.

I know! I know what slacks and windcheaters are too. And jumpers are still called jerseys.

A Sou’westet is a hat which catches water in the brim and is pointed to let it drain off.

Not sure if I count as "younger" - I'm 40 and don't feel very young! But I think it's a hat or coat or something, waterproof...? Really want to google it now! (I did read Enid Blyton as a child, but my memory is terrible.)

Cross post
I was sort of close but your very accurate reply has put me to shame!

By the logic of this thread , I'm picturing you sitting in a room full of sou'westers as you know what they are 😂

@Dollybantree not rwad the full thread but perhaps they were laughing at you calling it corporate punishment?

Hopefully an autocorrect

Good game! What about tarlatan? It gets several shout-outs in Little Women.

She’s exaggerating / mistaken most likely. I doubt the quiet kids wanted to admit they knew / put their hand up.

It's also a type of cat. Actually, I think a calico cat is what Americans call a tortoiseshell cat.

I only know calico from reading the Little House on the Prairie books when I was a child. They wore calico. It's probably called something else in Britain.