'Kindness' named Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2024

Andrea Quincey, director of early years and primary publishing at OUP, explained:

It is so encouraging that kindness has been voted – by a considerable majority – as the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2024. We know from previous years that young people are very conscious of the big issues that can divide us as a society and attuned to the important role which language can play in bringing people together.

One child summed it up perfectly: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle we know nothing about. We should treat everyone with kindness. You never truly know how much it could help someone.”

Mental health, empathy, and the power of kindness

Teachers involved in the survey noted how children frequently mentioned issues surrounding mental health and global challenges when explaining their word choices. Words like ‘need’ and ‘should’ also cropped up, illustrating their thoughtful reflections on what they see in the world around them.

“It tells us that empathy, and tolerance and the language we use matter, and that kindness is not only a solution to so many problems but is something everyone and anyone can do to make a difference,” Quincey continued.

The prominence of ‘kindness’ follows a series of socially conscious Words of the Year, including ‘climate change’ in 2023 and ‘queen’ in 2022, reflecting how children use language to process and respond to their environment.

AI, conflict, and slang: Other key words of 2024

While ‘kindness’ was the overwhelming favourite, other words also captured children’s attention. Coming in second was ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI), chosen by 25% of participants. One child explained: “I think the world is a better place with AI, as long as they do not take over our lives.”

The third-place word, ‘conflict’, was selected by 7% of children. This choice reflected not only global unrest but also personal experiences. “Many children like [me] have experienced conflicts in our personal lives, in our families, friendships,” one respondent shared.

On a lighter note, children also contributed their favourite slang terms, with ‘slay’ taking the top spot. Often used to express admiration or approval, one child described saying: “You totally slay in that dress!” as a way to “hype someone up and make them feel amazing.”

Other slang highlights included ‘sigma’ and ‘skibidi’, which showcase how social media and viral trends influence young people’s language. One child said, “When I’m with friends, if we’re really hyped about something, someone might say, ‘Skibidi!’ and we’ll all start doing the Skibidi dance moves, just for laughs.”

Tracking the language of children for over a decade

For more than ten years, OUP has analysed the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year to better understand how language evolves to reflect the emotions and priorities of young people. This year’s findings underscore a blend of optimism and realism, as children grapple with serious issues like mental health and conflict while embracing playful language trends.

The results offer a touching glimpse into the minds of the next generation, as one participant expressed: “It’s always important to be kind as a lot of people struggle with their mental health.”

Quincey concluded: “Kindness is something everyone can do to make a difference, and the fact that children have chosen it as their Word of the Year speaks volumes about the values they cherish.”

For the full report on Oxford Children’s Word of the Year 2024, visit the OUP website.

Read more:

• The real price of parenthood revealed: £212,961 to raise a child in the UK
• Thousands of children turn to Childline as loneliness takes a toll on mental health
• How to talk to your child about scary news