Comments on: I Hate “Kids”

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 15 May 2011 10:04:42 +0000

Next to an art display in my high school, the teacher put up a sign warning not to touch the artwork because “the kids would be so disappointed if you broke something.” My first thought was, why refer to high school students as “kids”, especially in the context of showing how they could create beautiful and insightful artwork? Why not just call them “students”? If it were a display of elementary-school artwork, and the appeal were instead “look at the cute artwork that the kids made”, that would be okay.

By: Herb

Herb — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:56:36 +0000

Every connotation for the word “kid” that you mention also pertains to the word “child,” as in “childish.” I would agree that in formal or academic writing “kid” is not the best choice, but informally it can carry connotations of affection and even intimacy. The great majority of us, I suspect, don’t see in it anything more than a less formal way to address our kids and those of others. You see, I love my two kids and my grandkids so that for me, the word has lots of positive associations. it is what we make it.

By: Alex Putel

Alex Putel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:38:34 +0000

Same here. I have began having strong dislike of the word ‘kid’ that I almost entirely exclude it in my vocabulary. For itself, it is not a decent word. Being partially similar from ‘child’ and sounding ‘hard’ and rather unfriendly. Despite it is defined for young people from infants to youth which if it were obsolute, there would be no word for this definition.

What’s more is the word’s definition has perhaps modified in recent times. Now it is often used on boys much more than girls for some reason, a modification that has gave me a grudge to it. This is unacceptable, as well as an adult equivalent to kid, ‘guy’.

I just can’t grow on this word. Although I haven’t always disliked it, in recent times, me often referred to it, seeing countless number of comments with it on males has established my abhor to it… The plural form ‘kids’ is not as bad if still unsuitable especially used for whom is the same gender.

Well that was a little long. Although here I felt it was a place to express about the word, I hope you didn’t mind this.

By: Maxine

Maxine — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:52:45 +0000

Thank you! I’ve always used “child” and “children,” except when addressing adults in a humor piece, i.e., “Hey, Kidz!” I think calling one’s children “kids” sounds low class.

By: Jordan (MamaBlogga)

Jordan (MamaBlogga) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:43:17 +0000

Seriously. When I was pregnant with my son, my husband referred to him as “kid.” I took great offense and let him know.

Sometimes, though, it’s okay in speech (just like ‘okay’ is okay in speech), but never in formal writing.