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Oxford University Press has selected ‘kindness’ as its Children’s Word of the Year for 2024.
Chosen over contenders like ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘conflict,’ over 6,000 children (ages 6 to 14) took part in the research, “emphasising the importance of empathy, generosity, and positive actions”.
In the slang word category, ‘slay’ took the top spot, beating ‘sigma’ and ‘skibidi.’
The majority of kids (61%) chose ‘kindness’ as their favourite word with teachers participating in the research noting an increased awareness among children of how acts of kindness contribute to mental health, particularly in challenging times.
The survey also revealed that children’s focus on kindness is often influenced by their exposure to global events and their personal environments. Many young people cited the role of kindness in addressing the visible and hidden struggles others face.
This suggests a generation that is deeply empathetic and attuned to the needs of others, even in a fast-changing and sometimes unpredictable world.
Linda Roos, Dictionary Publisher at Oxford University Press South Africa, said: “This study has been a useful entry point for understanding the importance of humanity among such young minds. As adults, we should never underestimate children’s ability to think deeply, their yearning for peace, and their relentless hope for positive change. Where communities treasure mutual support, kindness becomes a bridge towards unity and meaningful connections.”
Another study of the Oxford Children’s Corpus, the world’s largest database of writing by and for children in the English language containing over half a billion words, reveals AI remains a keen topic of interest for children who express varying viewpoints on the subject.
This sentiment is demonstrated by children’s enthusiasm for embracing AI, with ‘artificial intelligence’ being voted runner-up by 25%.
Whilst children expressed concerns around fake online content and superintelligence, of those who selected ‘artificial intelligence,’ 53% gave positive responses, such as ‘excited’ and ‘optimistic’.
“While AI presents exciting opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic growth, it also raises important questions about access and equity. By nurturing kindness alongside technological curiosity, we can help children approach these challenges with heart and intellect,” adds Roos.
“As parents, educators, and community leaders, it is our responsibility to model and encourage kindness. Small actions can make a significant difference, whether it’s creating safe spaces for children to express themselves, celebrating acts of kindness in schools, or integrating social-emotional learning into the curriculum.
For over a decade, the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year has provided valuable insights into the evolving language and values of young people. This year’s choice of ‘kindness’ is a testament to the optimism and empathy that define this generation.
It also reflects the influence and impact of media news stories and important topics of conversation in the grown-up world, as indicated by previous years:
2023 Climate Change
2022 Queen
2021 Anxiety
2020 Coronavirus
2019 Brexit
2018 Plastic
2017 Trump
2016 Refugee
2015 #hashtag
2014 Minion
Perhaps the adults have a few things to learn from the ‘skibidi’ generation.
[Source: OxfordSA]
