Children addressing adults

maman

I'm afraid all the youngsters using 'cheers mate' and 'thanks mate' are doing is trying to copy what they've heard adults doing so assume it's a grown up thing to do. So to answer the OP's question, parents will have taught them this but probably not consciously.

elsien

I was taught to address elders as Mr/Mrs/Miss (don't think Ms existed then) or auntie if it was a family friend.
I hate people being so formal with me, and am fine with kids calling me by my first name. Even the nieces and nephews have lost the auntie, which always felt weird anyway. As long as they're polite, there's more important things to be worrying about.
The only time I insist on the full formal title is when someone (usually a bloke) is trying to patronise me.

Spendless

My only Uncle is only 12 years older than me and we grew up in the same house until I was nearly 6, consequently I always referred to him by his first name. There was no way I was calling a non-related adult Aunt/Uncle when the actual holder of the title I didn't address that way. Husband is the same, his actual aunts and uncles are between 8 and 13 years older than him.

Can't say I've noticed being called mate by a child. My kids friends call me by my first name, and that's how I like it. I didn't marry until I was in my 30s so there was no way I wanted to be called Miss Surname by my friends kids.

amistupid

When I was a copper lots of kids used to call me mate, I prefered that to what lots of other kids used to call me.

sooty&sweep

Hi
In a formal situation I would expect my children to address an adult as Sir, Miss, Mr / Mrs xxx.
However in an informal situation where others are using terms like mate then I don't see a problem.
My issue is children showing respect and remembering to say please & thankyou !

Jen

j.e.j.

Guest101 wrote: »

First names seems fine the modern age. Mate is far too much.

I would correct them.

But age dependent, a 16 year old would be more lax with than a 6 year old.

I find that even doctors sometimes introduce themselves by their first name now. It doesn't feel right to me.


A child shouldn't be calling anyone 'mate', it sounds a bit cheeky.

pickledonionspaceraider

I don't think it is cheeky children calling adults 'mate'.

IMO, respect is not an automatic right, it is earned.

In respects of this thread, talking of a child showing adult respect, I never understood why just because someone is older they automatically should be treated with more respect than, say someone of the same age.

Mojisola

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

IMO, respect is not an automatic right, it is earned.

IMO, you start off by respecting everyone and then withdraw your respect if a person's behaviour warrants it.

David301

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

IMO, respect is not an automatic right, it is earned.

Surely you extend a certain amount of respect as a courtesy though? you cant just go around being ignorant towards others until they prove themselves.

Gavin83

David301 wrote: »

In my line of work I come into contact with a fair amount of children. I have noticed a growing trend over the passed few years of conversations with phrases such as "excuse me mate", "alright mate", "thanks mate" and "cheers mate".

You get the idea, the general use of the word "mate".

Im 30, and when I was a child I was taught that an adult was addressed as Mr/Mrs surname or if it was a school teacher they sometimes insisted on being called Sir or Ms.

Once permission was given or maybe if it was a family friend / friends mum and dad you were able to speak to them using their first name.

I wouldnt say I had a strict upbringing but these were the general rules of etiquette between all of my friends at the time.

I think if my mother ever heard me speak to an adult with the word "mate" I would have been on the fast track to getting a clip around the ear!!

Also swearing in front of adults seems to be a growing thing, As a young-ling we would swear but never in ear shot of an adult because that would be one way to lose our civil liberties!

Is it just me and the children here or is it countrywide?
Do any parents here teach there children these things?

:hello:

What age are we talking here?

Personally I'm of the school of thought that children shouldn't address adults any differently than an adult should address another adult. In a formal setting I'd call an adult Mr/Mrs surname and in an informal setting I'd use the first name. Therefore I'd expect children to do the same.

If a child said 'thanks mate' to me I wouldn't have an issue with it though. I'd probably just be pleased they were saying thanks.