Kids are Baby Goats

We usually refer to our DDs as "the girls", if we had had one of each they would probably have been called "the kids". Our grand daughters are sisters, we call them "the girls" too. Our DGS is referred to by name, just saying "the kid" really doesn't sound good. I suppose we refer to children in general as kids. I do not like it when news readers, politicians etc refer to children as kids, they come across as false, trying to get "down wi da kids"?
Kids are baby goats too though normally they have much longer ears than the human sort.

Actually the word "'kid" is acceptable in language terminology. It comes from the German word "Kind" meaning child and was used in old English and became shortened to "kid." Nothing to do with goats!!

Thank you Lillie, I was wondering how the word came into usage, that explains it.

I usually say children but don't have a big problem with Kids.

Kiddies however somehow unsettles me - sounds pervy!

Agreed Riverwalk re your last sentence

I think you are possibly out of date.. Though we all have our own individual preferences and annoyances. Kiddies? That's a new one.

Kiddiewinks! 'You guys' are both common use in our family.

Think that we can all have hangups over some words probably based in the distant past that we don't consciously remember!

I think if 'kids' is used pejoratively then I understand why people do not like the use but if used as in the affectionate use of 'oldies' the 'Aged Ps' etc. it's OK in my book!

I have no objections at all to kids, or grandkids, but I tend to call my grandchildren the tots too Anniebach.

What I don't like is the use of 'Nanny' instead of Granny or Grandma. A nanny is a paid help for childcare. I'm a very happy Red Granny to one set of grandkids, and Granny Walking to the other.

I hate the word 'kids' for children. It sounds both patronising and disparaging

DM referred to small children as 'chicks'

My DGD are my 'honey-bunnies'
Not sure about DGS though, don't think he would like that, he is usually 'my sunshine'.
DH calls them the 'kiddiewinkles'

M0 do you know why the word 'kids' grates so much with you? I have the same feelings when someone refers to me as a 'lady' or women as 'ladies' but I am not sure why! I also find 'nanny' & 'nan' grates too..I am Nana which I guess might make others cringe!! Funny thing language!

We always said 'kids' about our own grandchildren but for some reason I'm not keen on 'grandkids' Nor do I like Nanny which sounds like a paid childminder. I'm Grandma, but some don't like that. DH for some reason elected to be Grandad not Grandpa! To go back to grandchildren, as we have 6 we often in the family refer to them by number, as a joke. So they'll say 'Nos I, 2 and 4 are excited today, how are the others' if a party is coming up that is. I think I started it by introducing one to a friend as no 5 and it caught on.

I meant we said kids about our own children!

Am not going to call 40 yr olds 'children'!

Agreed but what us the alternative? Son and daughter too wordy. Offspring sound vaguely rude.

Fruit of my loins?

Or is that just for men...?

Nothing wrong with calling children kids. What's all the fuss about?

If that's all that they have to stress about, they are very lucky indeed

Since mine were both boys, I always referred to them as 'the boys' - sometimes still do so, though they're both in their 40s. I try not to call my GC 'kids', since my GS1 got very uppity about the baby goat thing! One pair is one of each, so they are 'the children', though soon they will outgrow me; in the other family they are 'the boys'. When I was a teenager I aroused the ire of my two younger sisters by referring to them as 'the kids'! It seems inappropriate now that we are all in our 70s.

I don't really belong here as I'm not a Gran,but joined when there were issues with Mumsnet once.

I am 40 and always refer to my children as children. Can't stand the use of the word 'kids' for children

I have never referred to my children or grandchildren as kids - it sounds so belittling and disrespectful. It just grates!

yet my daughter when she was at secondary school was happy with 'kids' and objected to 'children' as it sounded too babyish. And she really hated being referred to as a youngster! My husband and I , both retired teachers would always refer to children at school as kids too, in informal conversation - never formally of course or to parents or in front of the pupils. È just think it's an affectionate nickname and have bot problem with it, but I'm aware that some don't like it.

Should have read through befor posting! I meant We have no problem. You can't win with this sort of thing as people have such varying views.

I agree pippa000 As I've got 2 daughters I've always referred to them as the girls, and I've now I've got 3 granddaughters, I refer to those as grandchildren. I don't like or use the word kids to refer to my family or anyone else,

No problem at all with 'kids' - to me it sounds more friendly and less formal. However, as has been said, there is no place for the term when discussing children in official documents or meetings.