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]

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.

Kids make VERY good pedants.

Catch em young, train em well.

My dd now points out incorrect use of apostrophes on signs

How old are your kids?

How soon can I start?

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?

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

Never too early...?

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)

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.

I'll keep it in mind then!

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!