Child Rearing in Victorian Times Childhood barely existed for most British children at the end of the eighteenth century, since they began a lifetime of hard labour as soon as they were capable of simple tasks. By contrast, the fortunate children of the wealthy generally were spoiled and enjoyed special provisions for the need of a lengthy childhood, yet who in a way may have endured the same pain of those who were not as fortunate. Child rearing in the Victorian times was not at all similar to child rearing today. There were of course two different categories on how the child was