Your Child's Secret Language

If one of your kids gets up from the kitchen table and says "BRB," don't despair. He or she will "be right back." And, if you tell a joke and the response is "LOL," that's a good sign. It means, "laughing out loud." In case you haven't noticed, your kids are speaking a new language. It probably won't count as a language requirement when they apply for college, but it does help them communicate with other kids via chat rooms and instant message programs. It's pretty common for kids to check each other out when they're online, which could result in the prompt "A/S/L/" for age, sex and location. If your kids get such a query, please remind them not be specific with the "L" part of the answer. You don't want them disclosing details that could give away their exact whereabouts. Many of the terms used by kids today focus in on sexual activity or drug use. These are words that parents need to be especially aware of so they can be on the alert for a threat or actual danger to their children. Within these pages you will find several words and meanings of words. Hopefully, they will be of great value as you learn your child's secret language.