What do you think about the word "kids"?

Question

My best friend (in Texas), feels that the term "kids" is a sort of derogatory term for "children", and is turned off by the word. I'm interested in different opinions across the world. I am currently writing some marketing text for a project and am wondering if I should avoid the word "kids".

Can you let me know what area you are from (which U.S. state or which country)?

Answer 1

My children grew up on a small farm and yes we raised and milked dairy goats -so kids were born every spring. Usually I referred to my children as ;children or by their names or called them kids and then everyone was confused depending on the time of year and what was abounding in the barnyard. I also called my children "my little chickens" and we raised those too. Now that both of my children are 6' and taller I now refer to them as the GIANTS! What you call children matters not-it is rather your tone that denotes the respect and love of your verbal term. When writting-what is your market ?? Fun-formal-informal... We get soooo hung up on the political correctness of communication it's a wonder we converse at all. We have lost our aspect of humanness.

Answer 2

Kids may refer to baby goats, but its another name used for human children as well. I see nothing wrong with the word. And I am from Texas as well. However for writing a project children sounds more professional. But there's nothing wrong with calling children "kids".

Answer 3

Well it is really a matter of personal opinion. I mean I feel if you are writing a paper that may be published I would use the word children it is more proper, I believe. Kids is a word, I believe, is used as a slang. So really there probably is no right or wrong.

Answer 4

Kids is a poor choice of words and children only should be used for the under 13 crowd, Young man, young woman more appropriate for teens especially 16+.

Answer 5

I'm in Georgia. I call my children and everyone else's children....kids. Children is the more formal way of speaking and if you're writing some marketing text the word children would be more acceptable. We're not very uppity in Georgia so we say kids, lol.

Answer 6

I like the word 'kids' more than the word 'children' I feel like 'children' is more baby-ish (at least I did when I was young) The word 'kids' has a sort of fun connotation to me whereas 'children' seems like something you would say if you were an adult being condecending.

Answer 7

I don't think there is anything wrong with that word?! But children does sound more "politically correct"
I'm from Canada, and iwould think the term 'kids' sounds more endearing than derogatory! LIke they are MY kids, rather than they are my children. Sounds like someone else said, a teacher or someone who isn't related to us!

Answer 8

I live in Texas. I have no problem with the word "kids" as it just refers to the offspring of goats. Offspring have been termed many things around the world, and I have 4 children myself. I call them my kids. I call them my little bears. I could call them pups or kittens, whatever.
It's just an affectionate 'nickname' if you will.
I don't see it as a problem.

Answer 9

"Children" sounds very formal to me. I don't think I'm Victorian enough to have "children." I have a couple of rough and tumble, informal "kids." Actually, I just as often call them "monkeys" or "kiddos" or "little ones." As long as it's said with affection, I don't think it's derogatory to call your children "kids." You'll have to decide in your marketing project how formal you want to be. I guess it depends on what product you are trying to market and whom your target audience is.

I'm in Massachusetts.

Answer 10

I'm in KY and I have no problem with the word kids. And I have 3 of them. I have only known 1 person who was offended by that word, she lives in NY and she's contrary to EVERYTHING. If everyone else in a room with 100 people says something is fine, she's going to say it's not.