Pedant kids

[MardyBra]

Today, on a train journey, I got the DC to learn:

use of the subjunctive, as in "If I were..."
usages of less and fewer
should have (instead of "should of")
loose, lose (and, bizarrely, loos!)

And then they got bored and played cards.

Good start though. [Feeling pleased with myself emoticon]

[MardyBra]

Sorry I've just realised that looks like a smug competitive parent-type post. Just wanted to convey how I enjoyed chatting to the kids about correct usage of language.

[UniS]

Kids make VERY good pedants.

[frakkinstein]

Catch em young, train em well.

[Elsaz]

My dd now points out incorrect use of apostrophes on signs

[mamsnet]

How old are your kids?

How soon can I start?

[MardyBra]

11 and 8.
To be fair, the 11 yo knew most of the rules already, but needed clarification on less/fewer in particular. How old are yours mamsnet?

[mamsnet]

4 and 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MardyBra]

Never too early...?

[pickledbabe]

never too early.

they'll not pick up bad english if you absorb them in it from the word go.

(one-finger typing as eating donut, so can't do punctuation)

[Barbeasty]

When I was seven my teacher told my parents that I was a pedant. When I asked what that meant he gave the definition "It means that sometimes I want to throw you out of a window"!

It's never too early.

[mamsnet]

I'll keep it in mind then!

[Keishara]

Many children will forever be confused about less and fewer because when they are 4/5 we teach 1 more and 1 less in maths. I have argued and been shouted down repeatedly, Mothers please feel free to complain!