The Victorian Age is a period that covered most of the 19th century.

In Victorian times, many families had 10 or more children. Sadly, many children died as babies.

Very poor families sended their children to workhouses and worked to help their families , because they were not money for the school.

The industrial revolution created new jobs, in factories and mines. Many of these jobs were at first done by children, because children were cheap – a child was paid less than adults.

Many children started work at the age of 5, the same age as children start school today.

They worked for more hours. Working conditions were terrible and very dangerous. Children often did jobs that required small size and nimble fingers, for precision works.

But they also pushed heavy coal trucks along tunnels in coal mines.