The most accurate response regarding how the lives of children in the middle of the nineteenth century were different from previous generations is: They were working in factories or fields.
During this time, many children, especially from working-class families, entered the workforce at a young age, often in hazardous conditions, due to the rise of industrialization. While education was becoming more accessible, and some children had the opportunity to attend school, the harsh economic realities for many meant that work was often prioritized over education.