What age group does the word "kid" refer to?

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max-wellington@reddit

Anyone who acts immaturely and is younger than me essentially.

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HowAManAimS@reddit

Anyone who isn't a teen or adult is a kid.

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I’m almost 50. If you look younger than 30. I’ll call you a kid. But I don’t call you a kid to your face but I do say with my partner, friends or mom, “So the kid i work with, the one with the baby? Yea he’s….” Around others I usually say young man or young woman.

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Somepersononreddit07@reddit

All ik is since im 17 a lot of people here consider me one just like the legal system

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rawbface@reddit

From newborn infants to someone only slightly younger than me. There is no set age range.

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curiousmind111@reddit

toasts Here’s lookin’ at you, kid!

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bike619@reddit

Anyone who isn’t me that may or may not be younger than I am.

Listen, kid.

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No_Poet_7244@reddit

To me, “child” refers to an age range (anything under 18) and “kid” refers to a maturity level/mentality. College kids are, without a doubt, largely still immature—thus they are “kids” to me.

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mackelnuts@reddit

Whatever it is, it's younger than me

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kiji23@reddit

Everyone. Same as “dude”.

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WildTurkey5508@reddit

Anyone younger than you are.

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ShiraPiano@reddit

As someone who grew up a little outside of Boston, I reference every age as kid. From 0-100.

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vibeisinshambles@reddit

I refer to people older than me as kid sometimes. I’m in my 40s

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flatlander70@reddit

I am 54 and my 3 children range in age from 17 to 22. For me, anyone that age or younger is a kid.

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Ok-Bus1716@reddit

Anyone from 0-20.

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Arleare13@reddit

It's context-specific. There's no set definition.

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lionseatcake@reddit

Yeah what this kid said 👆

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ChickenFriedRiceee@reddit

Also depends on where in the US you are and the local dialect/culture.

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glycophosphate@reddit

Yep. I myself am 61 years old, and I will bet you all the money in my pockets that I will be called "just a kid" before the day is out.

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TheLastRulerofMerv@reddit

Yeah. I refer to my 40 year old friend as "kid" every now and then whenever he acts like an idiot.

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enstillhet@reddit

Whereas I, a 40 year old, use it to refer to folks from 0-25 or so.

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unicornhornporn0554@reddit

I’m 24 and use it to refer to anyone my age or younger. Or if they behave younger than me lol.

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enstillhet@reddit

Yeah behavior can certainly change that age range for me as well come to think of it.

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DisappointedInHumany@reddit

Oh boy is that right. I’m 60. I routinely get called “young man” and “kid/kiddo” by my neighbors who fought in WWII.

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SweevilWeevil@reddit

Here's looking at you, kid

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BobThe-Body-Builder@reddit

You're hanging around with people who's age is three digits, you definitely are a kid!

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jaebassist@reddit

I wish I had your neighbors

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PraxicalExperience@reddit

I'd say that anyone a generation younger automatically qualifies as 'kid'. ;)

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duckduckgirl@reddit

yup, bf calls his coworker (trainee) a kid even tho he’s only maybe 2 years younger than him. “i hate sitting next to kids on airplanes” would be anywhere from 0-12 where they’re moderately annoying. if you tell your child to “go play with the other kids” it usually means kids around the same age give or take a couple years. “kids these days” usually means teenagers.

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taniamorse85@reddit

Exactly. Personally, I pretty much only use it for children, generally under 12. However, it's also my favorite uncle's nickname for me, and I'm 39.

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DieHardRennie@reddit

There's no set definition.

Sure there is. A baby goat is considered a kid until it is 1 year old. Then it becomes an adult goat.

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ubiquitous-joe@reddit

Yes. Kid could mean: children (older than babies but younger than 18), a young adult (college kids, Billy the Kid), a 30-to-40-something in a field dominated by older people (1990s Bill Clinton, the Comeback Kid), or someone’s children of any age, adult or otherwise (“my kids are visiting”).

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Willothwisp2303@reddit

My 86 year old father calls everyone under 60 a kid. I keep admonishing him and retaliating by calling him an old man, but he thinks it's funny. 🙄

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cavall1215@reddit

Yup. People use it to refer to a college student or recent grad as inexperienced in the world but think they know it all If you ask someone if they have any kids, it will include children of all ages. Kids at a family gathering usually means age 5-10. "Don't act like a kid" can be said to a preteen and up to reprimand them for immature behavior.

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PressFforOriginality@reddit

Well my grandma has kids and they are atleast 70-60...

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Lostsock1995@reddit

Yeah I agree it’s very context based. I call my nieces kids but if say I see a sad story about an 18 year old who got hurt or is really sick I’ll definitely say “but they’re just a kid :(“ too

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stauby@reddit

This is right, you can call anyone kid depending on context. My favorite usage is Joe Biden calling our 60 year old Vice President “Kid” all the time.

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GreatGlassLynx@reddit

For parents, their children of any age.
Children under 18.
An undefined age range of people younger than the speaker.

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hawkwings@reddit

If someone says "The kids are playing outside", most people would assume that people under 18 are playing outside. There are exceptions to this.

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needsmorequeso@reddit

Yep, I say “college kids,” knowing full well that I am describing “traditional aged undergraduate students who attended an institution of higher education immediately after graduating high school,” and that generally makes them adults (maybe a few of them are 17 for the first few months if they graduated HS early).

But in informal contexts, they are “college kids.”

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Reasonable_Guess_175@reddit

Greatly depends on context. 1. Parents call their children kids (“my kids”) regardless of age
2. Technically a “kid” would be anyone under 18 3. Someone who is younger than you, especially in certain contexts. I 4. Someone who is just broadly young (inexperienced, naive, vulnerable, etc.). Examples of this would be saying “college kids” or I’ve heard people say someone was “just a kid” when they passed away in their 20s even though they are technically older than 18.

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AdFinancial8924@reddit

Yet we never say “military kids” even though they’re the same age.

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_gooder@reddit

I do (not to their faces or to demean them). I grew up on military bases, my dad was an officer for around 30 years. I'm 62 now and trust me, there are a lot of kids in the military! And now some of my doctors are kids. 😂

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Ice_cream_please73@reddit

Military kids are kids from military families.

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AdFinancial8924@reddit

My point was that for people 18-22 if they’re in college people see and refer to them as kids. But if they’re in the military they’re seen as men and women.

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ThievingSkallywag@reddit

I was in the Air Force and taught at the tech school for a few years and when we were telling stories in the instructor office, it always started with, “so this kid in my class…” because in class, many of them still seemed/acted like kids, for better or worse.

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needsmorequeso@reddit

Oooh good point! I work more closely with higher Ed than military, so I hadn’t thought of that.

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GreatGlassLynx@reddit

Same. I also call my little brother “kid” and he’s about to turn 40 lol

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big_sugi@reddit

My little sister is over 40. She’s still “kid.”

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GreatGlassLynx@reddit

If you’re old enough to remember when someone was born, you automatically have the right to call that person kid forever.

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needsmorequeso@reddit

Same. I remember when he was a baby. He’s a kid. Never mind that he’s in his 30s.

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Darmok47@reddit

My mom will tell me about "this kid at her work" and I'll realize she could mean someone who is 22 and just started working, or anyone below 40.

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WokestWombat@reddit

My older sister by 11 years still calls me kid, and I’m 20

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PlanMagnet38@reddit

This, but I wouldn’t use “kid” for a child younger than 5. I would use “baby or infant” for 0-18 months and “toddler” for 18 months to 4.

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lavasca@reddit

This is an optimally succinct description.

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CaliforniaHope@reddit

Exactly this.

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John_Tacos@reddit

Bout right.

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naliedel@reddit

Most excellent.

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Building_a_life@reddit

Yep. This sums it up.

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NewOrleansLA@reddit

Anyone younger than you

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Consistent_Damage885@reddit

Depends on context. Definitely anyone under the age of twelve. Usually okay for teenagers too. And once you get to be a certain age you find yourself calling 20s kids too.

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SteampunkExplorer@reddit

It technically means a child, but it can be anyone from a baby to a young adult.

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Tardisgoesfast@reddit

Depends on the context.

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herstoryteller@reddit

I refer to people as 'kids' if they are more than 2 years younger than me.

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signsntokens4sale@reddit

My age or younger. You're 48? Congrats you're a kid.

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OneRoughMuffin@reddit

I refer to any student, regardless of age, as kid.

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country_dinosaur97@reddit

I usually use kid to refer to anyone immature or childish even if they are older then me it doesnt matter if your act loke one ill call ya it.

This started when i was 21 had two helpers who were amost 10 years older then me both them extremely childish. Cause they were self entitled brats who now later in life had to figure it out on their own, cause they messed up their life's. Both them barely knew their ass from a hole in the ground but at least the one wanted to try to get better and be useful.

Dont know what happened to him after he left the company lost contact but honestly hope hes doing good.

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Ok-Communication1149@reddit

Half your age or or less of you're an adult

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androidmids@reddit

Kid is usually reserved for persons who behave as a kid (as in goats) and are rambunctious, annoying, unkempt, and so on.

If a group of people are younger than yourself and are acting in such a manner they can be called kids.

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D3moknight@reddit

Sometimes a "kid" can just be someone younger than you. Context is everything. Kids are just younger than me, but children are under 18.

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bananacrazybanana@reddit

imo 3-13

however at 25 i refer to everyone under 20 as kids

people still refer to me as kids

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sabboom@reddit

I use it for my FIL who is 15 years older than me.

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Temporary-Papaya-173@reddit

Anyone and everyone if they are acting like a child.

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AstoriaEverPhantoms@reddit

I use it for maybe anyone under high school aged, so under 15. Otherwise I use teen/ager.

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cmcrich@reddit

If I’m old enough to be their mother, they’re a kid.

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MeowMeowCollyer@reddit

It bugs me to no end that English doesn’t have a gender neutral word for adult offspring. My 33-year old kid is non-binary and an accomplished adult. When I refer to them as kid, it feels like I’m diminishing them.

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Moist_Asparagus6420@reddit

co worker of mine use to always call me "kid", wouldn't have bothered me so much if he wasn't 7 years younger than me

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AdTotal801@reddit

5-27

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desertgemintherough@reddit

I’m 66 and I have used it for any group of friends.

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ThisCornIsNotYetRipe@reddit

0 to 25

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cookie12685@reddit

Anyone younger than the speaker

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jacksraging_bileduct@reddit

Anyone 25yrs or so younger than me.

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leaveme1912@reddit

Anyone under 18 or someone you want to belittle

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MainelyKahnt@reddit

"kid" would be like 6-17. Older than a toddler but not an adult. Now, as a resident of New England who grew up in South Boston, "Kehd" is a term used for anyone of any age and usually in a derogatory manner like " yo, who the FUCK is this Kehd?" Or "fuck off, Kehd!"

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idle_monkeyman@reddit

Anyone younger than me is a kid. I'm 60, so that's all of you, kids.

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Awkward-Passage8447@reddit

I refer to my 32 yo brother as kid sometimes. An example would be. "I love that kid to death, but he ain't the brightest bulb." He's older than me, so I don't think there are real set guide lines for the word.

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Puffification@reddit

I've always thought of it as 0-10

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BigGammaEnergy@reddit

Youger than me.

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Uhhh_what555476384@reddit

As you get older, kids get older. When I was 20 a kid was someone not fully grown. Now I'm 40 and a kid is someone younger then 25.

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psychocentric@reddit

(I'm only being slightly sarcastic here) Anyone younger than the person calling them a kid seems to be a good frame of reference. Ha.

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msphelps77@reddit

I’m 38 and refer to anyone 25 and under as a kid. As for my own children, they will always be kids to me no matter their ages.

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redditjunky2025@reddit

anyone 5 years younger than I am

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brookish@reddit

Anyone 10 years or more younger than me

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BotherBoring@reddit

My boss calls me 'kiddo'. He's 50+. I'm 41.

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igwaltney3@reddit

Anyone who is younger or acts younger than me. I refer to my 25 yr old employees as kids

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igwaltney3@reddit

Anyone who is younger or acts younger than me. I refer to my 25 yr old employees as kids

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kitylou@reddit

Like 5-12 I’d say

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Venus_Cat_Roars@reddit

The question is at what age does being referred to as a kid feel great. I think it begins around 40 and gets real sad when there is no one left to think of you that way (90s?)

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Advanced-Anywhere346@reddit

I’d say anything under 18 wouldn’t warrant a correction, but depending on the age of the person using it, it’s relative. Like I’m in my early thirties, and though I don’t treat them as such, people in their early twenties are indistinguishable from teenagers to me. I’d refer to them as kids in a hyperbolic way, and funny enough someone in their 40s and beyond would probably see me the same way

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raindorpsonroses@reddit

My coworkers who are less than 5 years older than me refer to me to as a “kid” because I don’t own a home or have kids of my own.

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Mrs_Gracie2001@reddit

My husband uses it on anyone who is younger than he is.

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Foolsindigo@reddit

Anyone younger or older than me.

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GuardianDown_30@reddit

Anybody younger than I am.

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WhattaguyPJ@reddit

I've heard people use this term as a reference to someone who isn't always younger, but perhaps naive or even sometimes ignorant. This seems to help that person cope with the fact that others aren't on their same level, apparently.

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

Anyone younger than the person using the word.

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Known-Ad-100@reddit

According to my husband. Anyone lmao. He will be calling someone "this kid" and the person is old enough to be his father.

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Raining_Hope@reddit

Anyone who's 13 or younger is a kid. For a lot of people "kid" refers to anyone who isn't an adult yet. Teenagers are just kids in a lot of senses and are usually given less responsibility and expectations compared to adults. However, unless you are 13 or younger, it's unlikely that you will see yourself as a kid.

After that I'd say a rule of thumb is anyone 15 years younger than you (or more) is also considered a kid. The generational gap is large enough that younger generations seem like kids to you.

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seanx50@reddit

Under 55

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Horsesrgreat@reddit

Anyone younger than yourself 😜

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Vegetable-Star-5833@reddit

For me it’s anyone under 19

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USMCWrangler@reddit

Anyone 15 or more years younger than me.

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CaptainPunisher@reddit

I'm 48. I didn't care how old you might be; I regularly say "What are you kids up to?" This is sometimes said to people in their 70s. Generally, I'd say it's someone under 18, but you really just need to get it from context. "I don't run with the kids downtown (bar scene) anymore." That could be 21-30 or even older.

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LadyFoxfire@reddit

It depends on context. If you’re talking about “should we have kids at the wedding?” you’re generally referring to under 18, but maybe you make an exception for your 16 year old cousin because she’s well behaved, so “kids” would actually be under 16.

But it’s also common to refer to adults that are significantly younger than you as “kids,” like if you’re 50 and work with a lot of early 20s, you might call them “the kids I work with.”

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Ryyah61577@reddit

In my household it is a term of endearment.

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Wilbie9000@reddit

Anyone younger than you is a kid.

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Rengeflower1@reddit

Ages 12 and under. 13 becomes a teenager.

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tmahfan117@reddit

Anyone currently younger than myself. To an 80 year old, 50 year olds are kids

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Sidewalk_Tomato@reddit

"Kid" is very flexible.

Often used for people up through 16 or 17, occasionally 18 (although there are other words/phrases).
Used for people who are still very young or inexperienced: 19 through early 20's, especially if they make a big mistake or come to harm, like soldiers ("They were just kids").
Used by an elder for someone 10+ years younger, meant affectionately, or sometimes as humor--whether kind-hearted, or slightly diminishing.

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juupmelech626@reddit

Juvenile goats under 1 year

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JNorJT@reddit

anyone younger than you lol

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Mountain-Tea3564@reddit

Depends. An 80 year old will look at a 40 year old and call them a kid. It’s very context specific.

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22FluffySquirrels@reddit

Anybody younger than me.

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starstair_@reddit

I'm 18 and call people older than me kids fairly often as long as they're my peers. Like everyone at my job who is in the same position as me (aka the lowest tier) is a kid to me even though the oldest of them are 23.

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Tinsel-Fop@reddit

People who are younger than I am. Except from my mother's perspective: I am her 60-year-old kid.

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GetOffMyLawn1729@reddit

When I (73) am discussing Thanksgiving plans with my friends (also 70's), the "kids" refer to any of our children, e.g. "are any of your kids coming this year?" The "kids" in this instance are mostly in their late 30's.

Now, read my username!

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SilentJelly6737@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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Neuvirths_Glove@reddit

One generation removed (younger) is a kid. I'm 62. My 30-something sons and daughter-in-law are the kids to me and my wife. I have a coworker about the same age, He's also a kid to me (although I wouldn't refer to him as such unless I wanted him to call me an old fart).

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knight_is_right@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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Kittum-kinu@reddit

Baby goats

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SuperPomegranate7933@reddit

Anyone 15 or more years younger than me is a kid.

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Bubbly_Power_6210@reddit

"here's looking at you kid-" Humphrey Bogart- one of film's most romantic lines

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BeautifulSundae6988@reddit

No set definition beyond a younger person, usually an adolescent. But definitely like, sub 30.

Kid is usually just a term relative to the speaker. A younger person.

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llynglas@reddit

Also depends how old the speaker is.

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DoinIt989@reddit

Real Boston townies call everyone "kid".

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jiminak46@reddit

Me, sometimes. I'm 78.

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PineapplePza766@reddit

Yeah I’m 27 my family still calls my cousins and our s/o’s the kids because we’re all their kids lol 🤣

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baddadpuns@reddit

Depends on how old you are. Our parents call anyone under 55 "kids" and we call anyone under 40 "kids.

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Any-Grapefruit3086@reddit

i feel like kid is an affectionate term for basically anyone younger than you

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msflagship@reddit

Depends on life stages. If they aren’t at or past the stage in life where they’re pursuing a career, settling down, & owning a home, they’re a kid to me. There are some 40 year old kids. There are some 20 year old adults.

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zenos_dog@reddit

Our intern in high tech was “kid” for as long as it took for the next intern to get hired.

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RIPdon_sutton@reddit

When I was a "kid" I was referred to as such. 12 and under.

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MicheleAmanda@reddit

All of them.

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TinyHeartSyndrome@reddit

It is a synonym for child, so it can be minors or even someone’s adult children.

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AssTubeExcursion@reddit

Anyone a few years younger than me.

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GonWaki@reddit

Anyone my age (64) or younger. Why? When I was a kid, I used to play with other kids my same age.

Nothing different now except we play the “remember when” game a lot.

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Ifuckinglovedogsbruh@reddit

Relative, if someone's younger than you or to someone ig.

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jbdole@reddit

I use kid or kids like my Great Aunt Elsie did: as a gender neutral plural and substitute for y’all or u’ins

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HavBoWilTrvl@reddit

I agree with what some others have said. It's not indicative of a particular age range. I find it is usually applied to a person younger than the speaker who thinks they know more than they really do.

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Ambitious_Win_1315@reddit

Anyone under 25

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Possible-Champion222@reddit

That 90 year old man has a 70 year old kid

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Whizzleteets@reddit

Anyone 40 or less

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Weightmonster@reddit

A-Kid is 27.

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Weightmonster@reddit

a kid is also a baby goat.

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Unfair_Holiday_3549@reddit

24-0

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Backeastvan@reddit

Anyone who acts childish at work is the kid

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Ghitit@reddit

My adult kids will always be my kids.

Random kids are usually under the age of about twenty five.

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Vast_Reaction_249@reddit

Anyone younger than you.

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BM7-D7-GM7-Bb7-EbM7@reddit

When I was a teenager a kid was someone who was not yet in high school, so <14.

When I was 22 a kid was someone in high school, so <18.

At 40, when I'm watching sports, I'll yell at the TV to the men in their 20s playing professional whatever, "Oh, c'mon kid, you can do better that."

It is very very situational though, like I wouldn't necessarily call a young coworker a kid unless the situation warranted, like if someone messed up, "it's ok kid, you're still learning."

In my 40s though, I'd refer to all people in college or younger are kids though. Basically, if your parents are still paying your bills, you're a kid, ha.

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RockShrimp@reddit

Anyone younger than the speaker.

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4RyteCords@reddit

Anyone roughly ten years younger than me

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urmyheartBeatStopR@reddit

So yeah... some people use kid in a authoritative way, so basically anybody that is younger than them.

An old guy called me a kid once, he seems to be in his 50s or 60s. Boomer attitude, I just ignore and leave. Didn't want to be confrontation, I was in my mid 30s at the time.

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Dolly-Cat55@reddit

For me, it’s anyone under 18. It changes to under 15 whenever someone goofy says something like “hey kids!”

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Tbagzyamum69420xX@reddit

Anyone younger, or acting less mature, than me at any given moment.

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kilroy-was-here-2543@reddit

Anyone younger than the person saying it seems to be the common rule

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Tildengolfer@reddit

I use it to describe anyone my age or lower. I am a 36m and I am struggling to accept I’m almost 40. So I’ll create conversation with someone my age at a bar and tell my wife, “I was talking to this ‘kid’.” I catch myself from time to time wanting to correct myself but never do.

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RedLegGI@reddit

Children, teenagers, college age students, and that’s about where it stops. Once you get to about 22 it trails off.

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wifeofsonofswayze@reddit

A "kid" is anyone younger than me.

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Famous-Platypus8145@reddit

anyone younger than me by more than a day just to piss off my friend whose only 3 days younger than me

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BobsleddingToMyGrave@reddit

Anyone 20 years younger than me.

My kids are middle 30's.

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Dis_engaged23@reddit

Anyone younger than you.

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alottanamesweretaken@reddit

My cousin refers to his husband as kid. They are both in their seventies.

Yes, they are from Boston.

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Substantial-Ad5483@reddit

I came here to say in Boston, everyone is Kid!

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DrHarlem@reddit

Would be even better if they’re from Southie

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Cratertooth_27@reddit

Dude kid

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biddily@reddit

I'm trying to think if there's a specific time I call someone kid, like, did they do something dumb so they are now a kid? Or do I call someone a kid all the time. I never pay attention to it. The words just come out.

I think it's an anytime term. Anyone is a kid unless they are old. It's like dude or guy.

Life long Dorchester resident. Dorchester is a neighborhood of Boston.

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cheezburgerwalrus@reddit

Go Sox

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

This is ridiculously Boston. My buddies down that way pretty much call anyone they know well enough kid. I have a few who I am older than but I’m still kid occasionally.

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noir_et_Orr@reddit

Lets stop at dunkin kehd.

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abakersmurder@reddit

Lol my husband is a “kid” he’s 40… boston

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ModernMaroon@reddit

Kid: indicating immaturity or poor judgement/decision making

Kid: roughly the stages from when a child can speak semi-coherently until the stage when an adult begins making their own life decisions on a regular basis

Kid: someone younger than you

Kid: someone less experienced at something than you are

Kid: dude

kid: indicating appreciation for the simpler things in life

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bwurtz94@reddit

I refer to anyone younger than me and people maybe 5 years older than me as kids. If I could’ve gone to school with them, they’re a kid. But I’m an old soul.

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t3chguy1@reddit

Recently I went to a phone accessories store in NYC to buy a case for tablet and store owner called me "boy". I am in my 40s with a bold spot (probably not visible from the front). The guy is a black person in his 60s probably, it could be a cultural thing

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49Flyer@reddit

It depends on the age of the speaker. To a teen, anyone younger than them is a "kid". Someone middle-age or older might refer to people (particularly males) in their mid-late 20s as "kids".

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jereezy@reddit

Basically someone younger than you

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kindamoisty@reddit

If they're younger than me and being obnoxious then I'd call someone "kid".

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peter303_@reddit

Sheep under two years old.

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Difficult_Ad_962@reddit

I consider kinds to be 12 and under, 13-18 are teenagers, and 19+ are adults

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DrHarlem@reddit

My 80 year old grandma refers to folks in their 50s as kids.

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BambooSound@reddit

Depends on the goat

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MarquetteXTX2@reddit

Infant -18

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TheDwarvenGuy@reddit

Basically its anyone who is capable of making dumb actions by virtue od being young. A group of 25 year opds acting roudy and drinking might be xalled "kids" by an older authority figure.

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Brilliant_Towel2727@reddit

Anyone younger than the speaker

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ZJPV1@reddit

It definitely depends on context.

When used on the societal level, it usually means anyone who is school-age or younger (sometimes referring to pre-teens and under, or sometimes including teenagers who have yet to reach majority).

When used in a family setting, it would generally be a synonym for "children". An 80-year-old person would probably still refer to any offspring of theirs, in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, to be their "kids".

It can also be a "power-dynamic" thing. At my job, I'm a trivia host. There's an implied power structure of me being "host" and everyone else being "players" and I'll usually greet everyone with "hey kids" or something like that (I'm 37. Often, players are older than me). This can also be applied by specifically subverting the expectation. i.e. specifically calling older/elderly people "kids", to impart youth or just be silly.

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jastay3@reddit

It is common to refer to adults in terms below their actual age in informal language.

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KiaraNarayan1997@reddit

Americans mostly use it to mean anyone younger than them by a certain number of years. If you’re in elementary or middle school, anyone 1 or 2+ years younger than you is a little kid. In high school and college, 3 years younger or more is usually a kid. In your mid to late 20s and early 30s, 5+ years younger is a kid. 35+ consider 10+ years younger to be a kid and definitely anyone under 21.

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Snugglebunny1983@reddit

I'm in my 40's. Everyone under 40 is a kid to me.

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Smart-Dream6500@reddit

Usually anyone a generation or more younger than you, casually. People high on their own farts may get offended though.

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javerthugo@reddit

Anyone younger and/or less experienced than the speaker.

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qu33nof5pad35@reddit

For me, anyone under 25 is a kid.

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Jantte90@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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BigMaraJeff2@reddit

Depends on how much like experience they have. I'm 32. I will call a 22 year old a kid. But if that 22 year old has done some shit, they aren't a kid

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CubedMeatAtrocity@reddit

It can be regional. In NJ, everyone calls everyone kid regardless of age.

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Jasnah_Sedai@reddit

My own kids will always be my “kids,” even when they’re 60. For everyone else, anyone young enough to be my kid is a “kid,” roughly 20+ years younger than me. Always used in a light or endearing manner, never in a derogatory way. Like, I would never tell a 20yo coworker that they’re “just a kid,” but I’d say something like, “hey, kiddo, haven’t seen you in forever!”

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LoudCrickets72@reddit

I’m 33 and I typically refer to people as kids if they’re under 23 or so.

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jrh038@reddit

47, he was a fucking kid.

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RupeThereItIs@reddit

Anyone significantly younger then yourself.

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dartmouth9@reddit

Under 10, 10-12 tween, 13-19 teenager

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StaviaKostia@reddit

I caught myself referring to a group of guys visibly 30+ as "kids" yesterday. Luckily it was only in my head. I'm 51.

Usually it's the context. Anyone under 18 or so is almost always a "kid," unless I'm in a situation where calling them that would be destructive to the rapport. I would never call a teenager "kid" if that teenager came to me asking for serious help.

But if a 25-year-old person is standing in front of me bitching that they have to walk six blocks because Uber has surge pricing on? That's a f***ing kid.

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igotplans2@reddit

It depends. Their competency and attitude drives it. Fir instance, we're going though a period now where prople in their twenties aren't nearly as independent, financially stable, or settled as they were a few decades ago. Many still live with parents and have only taken on as much responsibility as a typical teen had a generation ago. For that reason, they can be, and often are, still referred to as a kid.

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SupKilly@reddit

0-24

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xMordetx@reddit

Every age group, so long as the person in question is kidding...

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redheadsuperpowers@reddit

Anyone who appears younger than me to me, depending on the situation

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GoblinKing79@reddit

Well, I'm a Masshole, so kid applies to literally everyone.

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AutofluorescentPuku@reddit

Anyone perceived to be younger than 33% of my current age.

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DBDude@reddit

If you’re doing a study to hype up “kid” or “child” gun deaths, kid can mean up to 19, or even up to 24.

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CharlesAvlnchGreen@reddit

It's a more conversational synonym for children, so parents will use it forever ("My kid qualified for Medicare this year.")

It's also used informally to refer to those a generation (or so) younger than you.

You would not use it in a professional sense; calling a 25-year-old coworker a kid would be hugely disrespectful, unless you're in Boston (or an area that uses "kid" more loosely in slang). But in the latter case, "kid" could refer to someone of any age.

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ghotiermann@reddit

Anything younger than me.

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nauticalfiesta@reddit

I'm in my 40s and have both younger and older people call me "kid." Its only derogatory when its someone older who is using it in a way to mean that I'm inadequate. Its basically the singular version of "you guys"

My mom called me "kiddo" pretty much up until she passed away.

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TrillyMike@reddit

Anyone younger than me, or sometimes anyone younger than most of the other people around at that time

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kairyfairy@reddit

Anyone more than 10 years younger than you

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worrymon@reddit

Anyone younger than me. And anyone older than me if I'm being ironic.

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Gullible-Display-116@reddit

Depends on the context. Older people might call people in their 20s or even 30s a kid.

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RianThe666th@reddit

Anyone who, in the specific context of the situation I'm using it in, shows signs of being a less than fully matured, developed, and perfect adult.

My dad is a kid when he pulls out his phone at the dinner table, my coworker twice my age is a kid when he gets drunk and flirty, my boss is a kid when he makes a slightly irrational call in a high stress situation.

It has nothing to do with actual age, if you're acting like a kid I'll call you a kid. And let me tell you those kids these days ain't shit.

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GigglingLots@reddit

Top voted comment is wrong here saying no set definition. It is from 3-12. Baby/infant~>toddler~>kid/child~>teen~>adult.

You hear elder adults refer to their grown adult children as “kids” because they are infantilizing them but it’s not a bad thing

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707Riverlife@reddit

I sometimes refer to my roommate, who is 36, as a kid. I’m 70, so it’s all relative.

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shrimp-and-potatoes@reddit

I am in my forties, I consider everyone 30 and younger as kids, until they prove otherwise.

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mykepagan@reddit

Lots if good answers here. I will add that if you use the word “kid’’ to refer to someone over the age of 20 then you are trying to be condescending. Unless that person is a friend, in which case you are being humorously condescending.

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pinniped1@reddit

Anybody a few years younger than me.

Usually it's a term of endearment unless there's other context. e.g., punk ass kids...

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Quirky-Camera5124@reddit

anyone 20 or more younger than you.

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tibearius1123@reddit

I call my soldiers “my kids” many are older than me.

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Embri2001@reddit

Not sure. I will say I have started to use the word more loosely the older I have gotten. Normally I stop at age 18.

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kaehl0311@reddit

Depends on the age of the person saying it. I’m almost 40 but whenever I see him my Father-in-law still says “hey kiddo!”

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jub-jub-bird@reddit

Anyone significantly younger than the speaker. I'm in my 50s and people in their 20s are definitely "kids". My own kids are definitely always "the kids" but often so is their extended friend group who are all in their 20s and early 30s.

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prometheus_winced@reddit

Two different definitions. As an age range, 4-11. Older than a toddler, not yet a pre-teen / teen.

As a relationship to a parent; always.

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PraxicalExperience@reddit

It's a subjective thing, and the longer you're alive, the more kids you're surrounded by.

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NerdFromColorado@reddit

Baby goats

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Dillenger69@reddit

For me, it depends on the maturity level of the individual. If it's a group, anyone 20 years or more younger than me.

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judewijesena@reddit

Walking age to 12

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breathless_RACEHORSE@reddit

Anyone more than 15 years younger than me.

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AshTheGoddamnRobot@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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OlderNerd@reddit

20s and younger

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HorseFeathersFur@reddit

My kids are in their 30s but they’re still my kids (another word for my children)

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Wadsworth_McStumpy@reddit

Everything from "My son's wife is going to have a kid" to "My oldest kid is 42."

So, I guess, from zero to age 42 (and counting.)

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-ballerinanextlife@reddit

25 and under if we’re speaking of brain development

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clunkclunk@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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Ok_Helicopter_984@reddit

It could be used in a few different situations, but definitely a goat

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DraperPenPals@reddit

Context specific. Can also be used for adults as a way to disparage or insult them.

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No-You5550@reddit

It depends how old you are. At 68 even 30 year olds look like kids. I swear I saw a guy I know is 28 and I thought he looked like a 17 year old kid. It would help of course if he didn't act like the 17 year old kid but that is another story.

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AdFinancial8924@reddit

Anyone younger than you. My mom still calls us “kids” and we’re in our 40s.

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Yankee_chef_nen@reddit

I’m a chef at a residential college dining hall and I refer to the 18–20 year old students as kids or children.

(The college is only a two year school, after the second year most of the students will attend the research university in Atlanta that this college is part of.)

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No-Profession422@reddit

Anyone about 10 yrs younger than me. I'm 62. 😄

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Advanced-Power991@reddit

very context specific, generally used for those with little to no real life experience, I use it mostly to refer to 20 somethings as I don't interface with much younger than that

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Prism_Zet@reddit

25 or less, or someone a good chunk of years younger than me, or someone just being immature.

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Antitenant@reddit

Literal children
A group of people even slightly younger than me (I'm in my 30s)
A group of people my age, if they're behaving foolishly
My teammates in online games, my opponents in online games (I don't know their age)
Anyone I believe has potential ("Listen, kid, you're going places.")
I am "kid" to some people

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amazonhelpless@reddit

Anyone 5 years younger than me. I’m in my early 40s.

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FlyByPC@reddit

Anyone less than half your age or so.

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ididreadittoo@reddit

Anyone about 15, maybe 20 years younger than me generally. So GenX and younger.

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xczechr@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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drebinf@reddit

To me, anyone under 50-55.

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DeathToTheFalseGods@reddit

Anyone that acts like a child. I have referred to people twice my age as kid because they were throwing a tantrum like a 2 year old

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Equivalent-Pilot-661@reddit

People just say it to people who are younger than them there isn't a set age limit atleast u don't think so anyway

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Shneebles518@reddit

Outside of age-group, "Kid" can be used as a term of endearment. If I'm meeting up with my friends I'll sometimes greet them with "Hey Kids". Older family members may call younger family members of any age "Kid", affectionately. It can also be used in a derogatory way as in "Kids these days don't want to work".

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50ShadesOfKrillin@reddit

i'm 20 and people hit me with the "thanks, kid" all the time

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Spyderbeast@reddit

If they are young enough to have been birthed by me, I might call them kid.

That doesn't necessarily mean I think they're young and stupid. It's just I'm old enough to be their mom.

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sxhnunkpunktuation@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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Karfedix_of_Pain@reddit

What age group does the word "kid" refer to?

It really kind of depends on the context...

I'm in my 40s and my parents still refer to me as their kid.

If I'm complaining about "kids these days" it can be folks in their 20s.

If I'm talking about who's going to sit at the children's table this Thanksgiving it's probably teenagers and younger.

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squishyg@reddit

Young people. There’s no agreed upon definition.

Parents refer to their children as kids regardless of age.

It’s common to say “college kids” when discussing people in university.

If you hear that a 23 year old died, you might say, “That’s so sad, she was only a kid”.

People might push back against describing someone as a kid when that person has been accused of certain crimes. For example, there’s likely to be complaints if a lawyer describes a 19 year old accused of rape as a kid, especially if the victim is described as an adult

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Longjumping_Event_59@reddit

Baby goats.

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ushouldbe_working@reddit

Under teenage but not baby/infant

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R0b0Saurus@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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dm_me_kittens@reddit

Anyone younger than I.

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TranslatorHaunting15@reddit

I think it depends on who you ask. To a 70 year old, a 30-40 year old can be a “kid” but to a 100 year old a 70 year old can be one

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Positive-Avocado-881@reddit

According to my dad, anyone younger than him and he’s 72 😂

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jmakovsk@reddit

That Animal Blundetto killed Phil's kid brother Billy. 47, he was just a kid.

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WritPositWrit@reddit

Those people who are younger than I am.

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Isekai_litrpg@reddit

I would say for the most part someone under 10, young enough they could plausibly be your child, or as a means of demeaning someone for being young and/or immature.

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HitPointGamer@reddit

It may refer to the difference in age (if the speaker is 70 then even 40 year olds may be referred to as kids). It might reference the immaturity of the person’s actions regardless of their age. Or it can be used in a parent-child relationship no matter how old they are: “I’m 100 and my kid is 80.”

In general, though, I try not to refer to a legal adult as a kid. Minors are fair game, though!

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Mason-the-Wise@reddit

Individuals who are socially children or the speaker thinks are less mature than their standard for an “adult.”

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Shadw21@reddit

Depends on context, but most broadly, it can refer to anyone younger than the speaker, or someone not acting their age/being an idiot.

Also baby goats.

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jderflinger@reddit

I get called kid a lot and I am almost 50. Sometimes I'm like bro, I am older than you.

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joeydbls@reddit

If ypu are from boston it could mean a 50 yr old man

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Bluemonogi@reddit

It could be referring to anyone younger than whoever is speaking. It depends on the speaker and context.

I’m 50. I would say my friend’s adult offspring in their 20’s are kids.

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TrickyShare242@reddit

People younger than you. Thats how it works if it exceeds 20 years you can call them a baby even if their 40 and you are 80

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Little-Bones@reddit

Anything under 13 usually, but given the context even a 20 year old can be referred to as a "kid". It's more about the topic of their cognitive function than anything

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HayMomWatchThis@reddit

Anyone younger or less mature than you

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HayMomWatchThis@reddit

I.E. “you listen here kid”

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JayB662@reddit

Pre-teens

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Head_Razzmatazz7174@reddit

Basically a 'kid' is anyone younger than 18, or anyone who is at least 15 years younger than your present age.

At least that's how I use it.

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GelatinousCube7@reddit

every midwesterner from 1990 to 2000

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WokestWombat@reddit

I would say around ages 4-12. Before that is baby/toddler and after that is teenagers (still not adults but not kids either).

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blueponies1@reddit

I think it scales with age. Anyone who’s still in their teenage years is fair game for kid. Anyone 20-25 can be called kid by someone in their later 30s+. To call someone going on their thirties+ a kid you have to be double their age or so.

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Zipposflame@reddit

if under 40 yourself its anyone under 30 if you are over 40 its anyone 20 more more years younger than you

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thunderclone1@reddit

Anybody you feel to be in an age group significantly younger than yourself

(I've seen a 70 year old call a 40 year old "kid")

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ConfuzzledFalcon@reddit

Zero up to about 5 years younger than me.

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sadmep@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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11twofour@reddit

My age plus 5.

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Esmer_Tina@reddit

Now that I’m in my 50s, anyone under 40 is “some kid.”

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ButItSaysOnline@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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bangbangracer@reddit

Context matters, but often anyone visibly younger than me.

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Outside_Narwhal3784@reddit

Usually refers to anyone 17 or younger. Basically someone who is still considered a child.

It can also be used affectionately, or antagonistically depending on context, to people that are younger than yourself. For example I’m in my 40s and I might refer to someone in their twenties as “kid,” just like an old timer might refer to me as the same.

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elucify@reddit

I asked my 90-year-old mom where my sister and brother-in-law were. She said "The kids went to the movies." My sister and brother-in-law were 65 and pushing 70 at the time.

"Kid" can, in context, mean adult child, though that still produced a laugh.

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C5H2A7@reddit

10 and under? 11-12 I consider preteen/tween, and 13+ are teens.

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Odd-Help-4293@reddit

I think primarily it's used for 0-12 year olds, but it can also be used for basically anyone who's much younger than you.

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ExplosiveToast19@reddit

It’s more about how old the person speaking is than how old the people they’re referring to are.

When I started working out of college one of our senior managers accidentally called us “kids” when he was talking about new staff. He was in his 60s.

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AdhesivenessCivil581@reddit

I had a boss in her 40's who called us, in our 20's kids. She still called us kids when she was in her 70's and we were in our 50's

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sean8877@reddit

Me and my friends used to refer to each other as "kid" all the way into our 20's.

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teslaactual@reddit

Anyone decently younger than you, people in their 20s refer to 5-18 year olds as kids while people in their 40s and 50s will call 20 year old kids etc.

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AdhesivenessCivil581@reddit

Depends how old you are. Pretty much anyone 10 years younger than you are at any given time.

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WingedLady@reddit

When I was a graduate student (so about 22 at the time) I was a teachers assistant (TA) and taught a basic lab course. I often referred to my students, anywhere from 18 to probably 45, as "my kids" when talking to other TAs.

It really has no set definition.

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Kielbasa_Nunchucka@reddit

anyone that is significantly younger than you, like ten years plus. I (41M) call my 19yo apprentice at work "kid" just as the 60-70yos in my Elks Lodge call me "kid"

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BilliamTheGr8@reddit

Depends on context. If an adult is called a “kid” it usually means they are younger and less experienced. It can be an insult or benign.

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FiveGuysisBest@reddit

Anyone who doesn’t know what a 401k is.

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traumahawk88@reddit

When you're younger ... Kid likely means somewhere in the 'under 12' range.

Then if you go to grad school some day you'll prob be in your mid to late 20s teaching and grading freshman and realize that 18yos are very much still kids. (Queue angry teens downvoting this).

I'm 36 now. Dealing with anyone under about 24 feels about the same as working with the kids when I taught STEM lessons in elementary schools. Excluding the subset of kids forced to grow up too young due to trauma or something (the kids who had to mentally mature very early to make it through life) you'll eventually realize that your average 18yo isn't that far off maturity wise from a 15yo and you'll likely consider all of them to be kids too. Under about 21-24... And you're a kid to me. And until mid 20s, they're not really much different.

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Zardozin@reddit

Anyone 25 years younger than you can be called kid.

I cite Lou grant as supporting evidence.

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jephph_@reddit

Younger than me

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buchenrad@reddit

I'm 33. So for me it means anyone 25ish or younger. You know all the people that are currently as dumb as I was when I was 25.

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msspider66@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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prometheusnix@reddit

Ten years younger than me, or anyone acting childish.

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Outside_Narwhal3784@reddit

Usually refers to anyone 17 or younger. Basically someone who is still considered a child.

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2PlasticLobsters@reddit

It's a sliding scale. The older you get, the more people look like children to you. I'll turn 60 next year & now think of people under 40 as not-quite-adults. People in their 20s might as well be in middle school.

I've often wondered what it's like for people who live into their 90s or over 100. Do people in their 60s & 70s look young to you if you live that long?

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InsertEvilLaugh@reddit

Anyone younger than me is a child!

In general usually anyone 19 or younger I feel, though 20 works too.

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mulahtmiss@reddit

I typically think elementary & middle school age. Like 5-12. But it could vary based on context!

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anneofgraygardens@reddit

my sister was just telling me about how when we were (actual) kids, our mom would refer to coworkers as "young kids" and she was really confused because how did these young kids have jobs? didn't they have to go to school?

She was really surprised when she visited my mom's workplace and learned that the young kids were actually grown adults..

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NotAFanOfOlives@reddit

Could be children, could be anyone younger than who is talking, some people refer to themselves as a ______ kid (usually referring to a subculture like emo or rave) up until about 30. After 30 it gets weird.

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virtual_human@reddit

Under 30.

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limpet143@reddit

Basically anyone young enough to be my kid.

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The_Lumox2000@reddit

When I was 13 it was anyone 10 and under. When I was 21 it was anyone under 18. Now I'm 35 and it's basically anyone under 25.

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CommandAlternative10@reddit

When you are 45 you will call someone 35 a kid. It never ends.

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Open_Philosophy_7221@reddit

As a 26 year old American,

In a professional setting kid is almost ALWAYS insulting if you are older than 18... Even if the person calling you a kid doesn't mean it that way. It is demeaning.

At 22 an interviewer asked me what I wanted to be "when I grew up". Baby boomers hold a LOT of power and wealth in the country and unfortunately there is a lack of trust of you get folks in many fields.

If it is someone much older than you and it is a social setting, it's kind of sweet.

Otherwise it can go either way.

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Teknicsrx7@reddit

Anyone younger than me

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TehLoneWanderer101@reddit

I still refer to my 19 year old college students as kids to other people (never to my students themselves). In the adult world, they might as well still be kids.

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WhatTheHellPod@reddit

In general a non family kid is any person sufficiently young enough for you to resent them solely for their being younger than you.

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stefiscool@reddit

Anyone younger than me, even if it’s a day, so 41 and below haha

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Mathematicus_Rex@reddit

From 2 to infinity; younger than 2 is a baby

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sharkycharming@reddit

I am a 50 year old American woman. If I am talking about kids, I generally mean anyone under 24 or so. I am sure there are exceptions, but those are probably ironic and self-deprecating as regards my own advanced age.

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CaraC70023@reddit

Depends on context, and the age rises as the speakers age rises. For me at 29 it's anyone about 23 or younger lol

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Rezboy209@reddit

When you're my age (pushing 40) anyone 25 and under is a kid. When my grandpa was in his 80s he referred to anyone under 60 as a kid lol.

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WinterBourne25@reddit

It’s completely contextual. It’s a slang word. There are no set rules.

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cdb03b@reddit

It depends on context. It could be narrow being anyone under 13, or broad being anyone under college graduate age (24), or even just anyone younger than you. But the most common usage is probably the first category of children under 13.

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Vachic09@reddit

Whoever is 15+ years younger than yourself

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whirdin@reddit

Usually used to describe anybody younger, regardless of actual age.

Billy The Kid was a popular outlaw and the term "kid" is often used to refer to somebody less mature or less experienced.

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ElectricTomatoMan@reddit

Depends on the age of the speaker.

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naliedel@reddit

I have adult children and I still call them my kids. They know they are independent. Not sure what else to call them? They are not children. Offspring seems too removed.

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Current_Poster@reddit

It's partly about where you are.

Like, the average age in NYC (where I live) is about 37-38. The town I moved from, it was 63. I used to be unironically called "new kid" on jobs when I was 30, because things were so skewed.

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Rogue-Telvanni@reddit

Anyone younger than me.

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timothythefirst@reddit

It depends.

In a literal sense it’s anyone under 18

Sometimes people differentiate between kids/teens and the cutoff would be, well, the teen years.

Sometimes people refer to college students as kids even though they’re technically adults

My boss at work calls me a kid even though I’m 30, because shes 60.

There’s really no definite answer.

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CAAugirl@reddit

Anyone who is young enough for me to have birthed is a ‘kid’ have some employees that my colleague and I refer to as babies because they’re not even 20. It all depends. They’re obviously Not babies but when something bad happens to them, they’re so young, they’re babies. And they’re kids.

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Avasia1717@reddit

“do you have kids” means do you have any offspring, regardless of age.

but if i said “there are some kids” i don’t mean babies, toddlers, or adults. little kids would be roughly age 3-12 and big kids would be 13-18. 18 is legally an adult but most people would see an 18 year old still in high school as a kid.

but then there are also “college kids” which is kinda weird because college students, besides rare exceptions, are legal adults.

it might happen that a recent college graduate starts a job and the other employees there call him the new kid.

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

10 years younger than me.

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Fun-Property1881@reddit

Anyone from 3 years old to whatever 5 years younger than me is a kid.

I'll be 75 and a 70 year old is but a wee lad.

This is just how I work. Im happy with it.

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exhausted-caprid@reddit

There are a couple of meanings depending on the context:

Kid as in "social category", like a kids' sports league or a summer camp for kids? My mind says toddlerhood to early teenage years.

Kid as in an adult referring to "my kids"? Any age, just a catchall term for your progeny. My grandma calls her 50 year old grown-adult offspring her "kids".

Kid as in generally calling an individual a "kid"? Anybody younger than the speaker. I'm a third-year college student, and the first years are kids to me. However, to the grad students whose lab I work in, *I'm* the kid. All a matter of perspective, really.

I'm now going to stop saying the word "kid" before it loses all meaning due to overuse.

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luckygirl54@reddit

Can refer to anyone.

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DOMSdeluise@reddit

If I'm talking about my kids, or someone's kids specifically (bobs kids, Jane's kids, whatever) I would be referring to their children, irrespective of age. If I am saying someone is a kid, I'm saying they are under 18, not an adult.

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MunitionGuyMike@reddit

Anyone younger than you. And sometimes even yourself

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GF_baker_2024@reddit

It often depends on the person using it. I'm in my mid-40s, and my mom still calls me a "kid."

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oarmash@reddit

Colloquially I will call anyone ~5ish+ years younger than me, a kid. Regardless how old they actually are.

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HandoAlegra@reddit

My rule of thumb is anyone under 24 or younger than me

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KR1735@reddit

It's a relative term. My grandma uses "you kids" to refer to my parents, who are in their mid-50s.

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Redbubble89@reddit

Really depends.

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BreakfastBeerz@reddit

I'm almost 50. My parents still refer to me as "the kids".

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PurpleAriadne@reddit

Sometimes it’s a term of endearment from someone more mature/more experienced to someone junior.

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Devious_Bastard@reddit

For goats it’s when they are babies. For humans it’s anyone younger than me by a few years.

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Gatodeluna@reddit

It depends on the age of the person saying it. Most people will call under-13s kids. To anyone over 30 a teenager is still a kid. Beyond that, a 50 y.o. can be a kid to a 90 y.o., etc.

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wiarumas@reddit

General use term covering a wide variety of ages. Sometimes just means people who are younger (the bar was filled with a bunch of kids). Also, not uncommon to describe a person's offspring as kids. Eg, "I have three kids. The oldest is 40 and has kids of his own."

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irishpunk62@reddit

I think it’s different for everyone, but for me, anyone more than five years younger than me.

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Stop_Already@reddit

I’d say it largely depends on the age of the person using it.

I’m in my mid 40’s and to me? Anyone under 30 is pretty much a kid. Sometimes people might prove me wrong and be more mature when I interact with them but for the most part? Yeah.

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Dio_Yuji@reddit

It can have two meanings: 1. a child (younger than 18) or 2. Someone who’s significantly younger.