Kiddie is an informal, affectionate word for a small child, typically younger than about seven or eight years old. Parents might call their young children kiddies, or a daycare worker might say, “Come on, kiddies, time for snack!” The word has a gentle, playful feeling to it.

You'll often see kiddie used to describe things designed for young children. A kiddie pool is a small, shallow swimming pool perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Kiddie rides at an amusement park are the gentler attractions meant for the youngest visitors, like small carousels or miniature trains. A kiddie table at Thanksgiving is where the youngest family members sit together while the adults and older kids use the main table.

While kiddie is warm and friendly when used genuinely, it can sound dismissive if someone uses it to make something seem babyish or unimportant, like calling a serious idea “kiddie stuff.”