By: Natasha Archary
Andy Maqondwana and the Feel Good team wanted to know which mannerisms and phrases you picked up from kids.
Kids say the “darndest” things which often leaves adult baffled, as they try to make sense of new age jargon. It’s not slang per se but more a way of popular expressions that are picked up from content they consume.
This then gets filtered down into their daily lives and becomes integrated in how they communicate.
If as a parent you’re found shrugging, “well if I can’t beat them, I may as well join them,” then this one’s for you.
In an attempt to be the cool parent, you’ve now started using these phrases and little quirks to gel with the in-crowd.
Whether you’re chatting to your kids’ friends or colleagues at work, these quips have now been adopted by you and there’s no going back.
It’s not just teenagers who use these lines when communicating and toddlers and younger children often pick up on colloquial language from YouTube or cartoons.
Secret language
Before you give yourself a pat on the back for “keeping up” with your kids in conversation, just remember that phrases change from generation to generation.
Every year there are new mannerisms and phrases being thrown into the mix, so don’t get too comfortable. The more you communicate with your children, the more you realise how out of depth you really are from their worlds.
Here are some mannerisms and phrases that kids use:
“Hey mom, what’s Gucci?”
Which means, Hey mom, what’s good?
“I just yeeted the ball so far!”
I threw the ball so far
“Bruh!”
Same as bro but can be used to express disbelief as well
“What’s the tea?”
Spill the gossip
“Quit being so salty yo!”
Why are you in such a bad mood
“I’m just finna live life!”
I’m just out here trying to live life
Because these mannerisms in the form of handshakes, fist bumps, facial expressions and phrases change so often, if ever you’re in doubt run a quick Google search and bring yourself up-to-speed with your children again.
Also read: The heart of parenting: Are you teaching your child emotional intelligence?


