Boris Johnson using the term "kids"

I could never called my teenage pupils 'children' in school. The only time I'd call them 'boys and girls' would be with an ironic twinkle.

Personally I used to use 'guys' which I know irritates plenty on here (sorry). In this age, it's seen as gender-neutral.

In class, a general term is necessary. 'Come on, guys. We've only got 5 minutes until the bell'

It doesn’t bother me that much. It’s not a term I used for mine years ago but it’s much more widespread today and I do now refer to my own four collectively as the kids.

Apparently, the current in-vogue term is YP’s. I learnt this last week and it stands for Young People. I’m not sure how it’s pronounced - yips? Yups? Yaps?

Wipees?

It doesn't really bother me. I don't call my six adult DC as the children but I do sometimes use the collective word kids.

Those that really object to the use of kids for children do you object to nanny instead of grandma too?

I do indeed ⚡️ Also when I taught (whether nursery or adult education) I followed the example of an exemplary teacher in BishopEton Liverpool who called the children ‘chaps/lady(ies)’ -

I'm surprised anyone is bothered about what total strangers object to.

Evoha the word ladies is banned too, in some places. When my dd graduated, the opening ceremony was addressed to ‘men & women’ rather than ‘ladies & gentlemen‘. I was rather miffed to be relegated to second on the list.

What’s wrong with calling them “ankle biters” ?

The first reference to children as kids was in 1590.
I think we should be used to it by now.

Rugrats has a certain ring to it..

Sprogs.

Grubs.

This.

The real question is how many does Boris have?

Yes I cringe everytime too!!

My Mum and MIL disliked the term kids. Interesting that my GSs use it quite often. It’s only a word FHS!

I don’t mind ‘kids’, but I hate ‘grandkids’.
Utterly illogical, I know.

We call our AC the kids if we are talking to someone about them, and certainly don’t see anything wrong with it, never thought of them as goats

I'm quite happy to use 'kids', but if I was speaking formally in public I would say 'children' for under-16s and 'young people' for older teens or 20s. Surely if the Prime Minister is speaking in public, that is formal? As other posters have said, he should use formal language rather than slang, and get his hair sorted if he wants to be taken seriously. Maybe he doesn't...

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Furret

Sprogs.

We were sprogs!

It doesn’t bother me one way or the other, there are more important to be upset about.

Honestly, in the total mess we are in- that is the least of my worries.

biba70

Honestly, in the total mess we are in- that is the least of my worries.

This is how I feel, too.

I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to being irrationally irritated by certain words, but 'kids' is so widespread, and in any case, in a speech by Johnson there are likely to be far more worrying things.

People calling him 'Boris' makes me cringe, though.

People calling him 'Boris' makes me cringe, though.

He's not very keen on it either

None of his friends call him Boris