How did child labor affect people's lifestyles during the Industrial Revolution in Britain?

When children had to go to work in factories during the Industrial Revolution in Britain, there were many effects.  The children themselves were effected.  Their families were also impacted by it.

Usually when children went to work in factories, they did so because their family needed the extra income.  Their work had a positive impact on their families in that they were able to provide money for the household.  Factory workers were usually poor, and because of this any extra income was beneficial.

Children were impacted in negative ways by factory work.  Children who worked in a factory day after day were unable to attend school.  Working in the factory was often dangerous.  Small children were frequently sent into small spaces under and around factory machines to pick up things that had fallen, such as pieces of cotton.  Machines could be dangerous because there were few safety features.  Young girls had to wear their long hair pinned up because it could get caught in the machines.  This could injure or kill them.  The pollution caused by the factories could make children ill.  Many children became ill or died from what was called "mill fever."