How to Pick a Nickname for a Child
Nicknames are a great way for kids to feel special and accepted. When a nickname comes from a parent, teacher or babysitter, it can have extra special meaning. He can announce it as his name with pride to other kids. He can also use it for games of pretend. Giving your child a nickname can add another sense of fun to your relationship.
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Instructions
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Think about the favorite activities of the child. "Champ" is great for a kid who lives for the game. "Princess" is appropriate for a fairy tale lover. "Madonna" may be the nickname for the budding pop star in your midst. Make sure it is something fun and flattering when you take this route.
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Look at the name of the child. Bernard can easily be Bernie. Olivia may become Livvy. Danielle is often called Danny. Shorten (or sometimes expand) your child's name to find cute and special ways of calling him.
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Consider calling your child by a translation of his name. It's especially fun if your child is learning a second language. This nickname acknowledges his hard work in learning the language and can help him feel as though he can fit in when he travels to the country of origin for the language.
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Go crazy. Have fun with it. Change a nickname daily. If you are watching a show, pick the name of the character he is most like to call him for the day. He will likely smile at this, perhaps secretly wanting to be Dawson on the creek in real life!
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Ask your child which nickname he would prefer. Sometimes a kid has a secret longing that he is embarrassed about saying aloud. Having someone call him a certain nickname can do wonders for his self-image. If he secretly longs for girls to like him, calling him Romeo may increase his confidence that he is lovable.
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Tips & Warnings
Never use nicknames to call the child when he is in trouble. If you do, he may grow to dislike--or have a sense of dread around--his nickname.
Never use a nickname that is obviously inaccurate, patronizing or tries too hard. For example, calling a heavy child "Slim" will only make him more self-conscious about his weight.
Comments
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chefzomagic
Aug 31, 2009
I'd like to add that it's good to give a child counter-nicknames, if s/he's developed a nasty one at school. Don't make it the opposite of the one he's picked up, but one that shows something the child values about himself. And you must make sure there's another child around when you say it so that others will pick it up. That nickname mom gave me and nobody else calls me, is just an embarrassment more than anything most of the time.
