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?

None had read the velvetine rabbit. Classic!

I think the adults and kids not talking is a major issue but also is a result of them reading books that aren’t about clothing materials of yesteryear.

One of my (fee paying) year 3 class asked what a handkerchief was last year and it turned out that no one knew the word so no, it doesn't surprise me at all.

One child didn't know what a hedgehog was.

It's more likely to be because children don't wear that fabric anymore. They will know about more modern fabrics instead.

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

Parents don't tend to go out to dinner parties wearing velvet gowns much anymore. I bet the kids know what loads of stuff is that you didn't when you were that age. Times change. I'm not sure it's about lack of reading or talking! Most kids I know are always in conversation.

I asked my 9 year old and she said is it like felt? A fabric. She also knows what a handkerchief is as I bought some for myself before Christmas!

I’ll have to ask my year 5 if she knows what velvet is. She’s never worn anything velvet (why would she) so might not. I will ask and report back

It's really not that shocking that a dated material isn't spoken about much. I'm not sure the word velvet has come up when I've been speaking with my DC.

Possibly just because they don't wear a lot of velvet clothing or have velvet curtains. Lots of vocabulary is learned by overhearing and I think it's just not a word that's used as much as once it was.

I often administer a standardised receptive vocabulary test to kids at . We are always amazed how few know what a bannister is but they can all recognise an avocado. I suspect this would have been reversed 30 years ago.

I do!

Oh and the 7 year old knows because she tried a dress from monsoon on this morning with velvet straps (a hand me down from a cousin).

Velvet’s been back in for ages. Loads of people are wearing it again.

My friend is an English secondary school teacher in city comp. Teaching Christmas carol charles dickens and took a turnip in the show the kids as they didn’t know what one was. 15 years old

Lots of party wear is sequins, satin and velvet.

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

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.

Plus it's almost impossible to buy a sofa that isn't velvet these days - don't kids ever flip through newspapers or magazines any more? I learned a LOT from reading my mum's Family Circle if she left it unattended.

Bet they knew what an avocado was...

Pretty sure Dickens wouldn't have had a clue

Mine would know what it is. DH has a weird thing about velvet and hates the texture of it so always says something when we go to a restaurant or somewhere with velvet seats. Plus the odd fancy dress costume like DD had a medevial princess one book day and that was velvet.

Are you easily shocked? I'm not even mildly surprised by that, it's not like it's an everyday word that would come up much in conversation.

I'm not sure my children would have known at that age, not even sure if they would now tbh

Yeah I even know what bombazine is.

Just asked my kids. My 7 year old (who's strong verbally) had no clue. My 11 year old could define it, but went to curtains not clothes.

It's quite an old fashioned word nowadays, it just doesn't come up in conversation. I don't think it's a big deal that children don't know it."

Children often ask me what fruit I'm eating. It's fairly ordinary fruit in my view, peaches, frozen mango, raspberries, but I'm working in a fairly deprived area this year so maybe not.

Magazines? Are you posting from 20 years ago 😂hiw many 8 year olds are reading magazines nowadays

Times have moved on