Why is it we call our offspring kids???

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   Shawn May Scottposted 13 years ago

   
   We have for the longest time affectionatly called our children kids. Even some of the great children's hospitals are names "Sick Kids" affectionatly. Where has this term come from and why have we applied it to our children? Are we respecting our children by naming them is general after baby goats? What do you think?

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      Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Good Evening, Shawn.
      It may be a tad antiquated but it is far from being disrespectful…
      Origin of KID
      Middle English kide, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kith kid
      First Known Use: 13th century (1)
      
      
      (1) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kid

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         Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the origin. Now why do we use it the way we do?

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            Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            The English word “kid” does not have a negative or disrespectful connotation. I see no reason to train anyone to think it does.   
            Kid, in English, is an informal, affectionate word that means child. It has roots in northern Europe. Other words in English with a similar root are kidnap and kindergarten (kinder is the German word for child). Referring to a young goat as a kid seems more like a compliment for the goat than an insult to a child.

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      Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It's a term of affection. Would you rather that we refer to them as things?

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         Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Certainly not but why "kids"? Why not "calfs"? As I said below I was trained to referr to a child as a child not a kid so I am curious as to why and where this affection came from.

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            Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It is a term of love a term of affection a term of endearment just as you might call your husband "Honey" he is not honey.

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   Eric Newlandposted 13 years ago

   Maybe a more important question is: Why do some people talk about having kids like it's a chronic medical condition?
   
   e.g. "Oh, you don't wanna go out with her. She got kids."

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      Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Diffinatly a more improtant question is why we talk about our children as a medical condition. That is some of the disrepect for them as human beings. I have always made an effort to call my children, children and any other child a child. How sad it is that we make them sound like a disease!!!

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   innersmiffposted 13 years ago

   Somebody needs to invent a word for one's children when one's children get to adult age. Calling them 'children' or 'kids' sounds silly.

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      SandyMcCollumposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, so I call them my grown kids or adult children. Or, when I'm referring to them in general, I will say all the kids. Someone once chastised me for calling my child a kid, when it is what a baby goat is called. I say, I also call them my reasons for living, my best medicine, and my living hell, and nobody argues with those.
      
      
      ETA: Adorable photo!!

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         Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I have never met you so I cannot say it was me whose chastized. As a former RECE we were trained to referr to a child as a child and not a kid. It was a respect thing. I am glad your children are so much to you as mine are to me.
         
         Couldn't resist the photo!!!

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      Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That would be helpful. I remember my parents referring to us as "kids" when we were all in our 20's and even 30"s.

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   Greek Oneposted 13 years ago

   Many children were conceived when their parents got off in the spring

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      Shawn May Scottposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Okay, ha ha I am laughing good one.

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