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?

What's yesteryear about velvet? I have two (possibly three) velvet dresses. One is cotton velvet and floor length but not white tie, the other is a synthetic velvet day dress, the third, which alas no longer fits and I've just remembered, is devore. All very fashionable.
Velvet is a finish, not a material in itself - i.e. it can be made from silk, cotton, polyester etc and still be velvet (silk and cotton both expensive) and means the cloth soft, furry finish which drapes well (not to be confused with plush, which is much stiffer and used for upholstery).
Children don't read any more, except what school provides, which doesn't seem to be the sort of stories that include velvet dresses.

I am far more surprised that you find this surprising. Velvet isn’t a material that is very commonly worn nowadays. Some people have velvet upholstery but that’s not really something crops up in conversation with children.

I wouldn’t expect young children to have heard of it.

In answer to your question, yes, my DC would know what velvet is, and would have known in yr 4. But then, I read them bedtime stories (I read them everything firm Beatrux Potter through Bronte sisters to Jon Haidt and god knows what else). I taught them to sew and talked with them and took them to visit things. Parenting, right?

Velvet is both a type of fabric, and a texture, so understanding the word is quite important. It is still often used in clothing and furnishing nowadays so all this 'we're not in the 19th century anymore' is ridiculous. Whilst it would be better for all of us to live in an educated society, the fact that it isn't so puts mine at huge advantage so 🤷🏻‍♀️

So velvet is some bygone fabric of ‘yesteryear’?

I'm pretty well read but I've only heard of the Velvetine Rabbit because of the Friends episode, I assumed it was an American book, is it popular here? You see, we all have things we haven't heard of

I didn't know either internet telling me British 1920s childrens book.

Haven't read swalloan and amazons either - though other kids classics did come across and read.

Both my teen DD have velvet clothing in their wardrobes - don't think DS has but he has a lot of corduroy fabric items.

I've never heard of a velvet quilt, do you mean like a bedspread?

I don’t think many children watch adverts to of seen a dfs advert.

We certainly don’t have adverts.

Lots of people wear velvet. It makes excellent jump suits, for one. I bought a dress only last summer that is velvet.

Though a load of teens who might not know, will from the jimmys in 28 years later in their velvet trackies.

Just asked my yr 5 and yr 1 children and they both knew it was a type of material. Yr 1 child thought it was a type of silk and yr 5 child described the texture in detail.

Missing the point of the thread slightly I know but I've bought four magazines this week, two for the 7 year old child.

Slightly off topic but I can't think of anyone I know that wears jumpsuits, I don't think I even see people wearing them. Where is this such a common item of apparel, in that there London? 😁

That must have cost you a small fortune.

Only from the reference in Simon and Garfunkel's 'America'. I'm not sure if that is better, or worse?

Id have to disagree about the reading. The vast majority of the 30 10/11 year olds I teach would read quite a lot. Wide variety in the types of books from football biographies to detective books and Lottie Brooks etc . So much that we have organised a book swop library within the classroom.

I asked my 10 year old and she knew what it was from a dress up fashion app she plays on (ironically)

My Y4 daughter asked what as Asda was earlier!

About £20. The child's were more expensive than mine.

This 100%
I bet they all know what tablet is though and how it works.

Actually, it's less that velvet is not as popular as it was, and more that people don't talk about what their clothes are made of so much these days.

When I was a child, my mother would have always been very attuned to the materials involved in clothes. She could make her own clothes and would have bought material from a shop in town. I would have witnessed all that. But with my own children, it's just not a topic of conversation.

Just asked my 6yo, "its a type of material" and when I asked how she knew that "learnt about it in year 1, with lots of materials like sponge, glass, and learning hard and soft."
So I guess some schools must be teaching it, not sure it would've been mentioned otherwise!

Back in, now. Mainly evening wear.

Just asked my Y4 son (age 8) if he knows what velvet is and he said yes, a kind of fabric

He is an avid reader and also listens to his Yoto player including the daily podcast - he learns lots of random facts from that, and he has an excellent memory.

Sorry for going off -tangent. Your sofa sounds amazing. Is it lovely to touch? It must be . Are you pleased with it ? Would you buy it again , presumably the pile isn't flattening ? How about spillages , can it be cleaned ok ? Sorry for so many questions.

I do but i wouldn't have thought they are words that many young people would know, certainly not 8 year olds

I’ve just asked my 8 year old, he thought it was abit like Velcro