If you have a child aged six to eight, you've likely heard the phrase '6-7' repeated ad nauseam. It's not a code, a joke, or a secret handshake—it's a meaningless combination of numbers that has become the latest obsession among Gen Alpha kids. Dictionary.com even named it 'word of the year' for 2025, much to the chagrin of parents everywhere.
The term serves no purpose other than to annoy adults and signal in-group belonging. As Steve Johnson, director of lexicography at IXL Learning, explained, 'It’s something that’s used to show, “I’m part of this generation. This is who I am.” It’s kind of like an in-group joke.' In essence, it's a linguistic middle finger aimed at polite society.
Some teachers have responded by banning the phrase outright. But as any parent knows, prohibition only makes forbidden fruit sweeter. When my son started saying '6-7' at every lull in conversation, I realised that rules would only backfire. Instead, I adopted a different strategy: I started saying it myself.
By co-opting the term, I drained it of its power. My son quickly lost interest when his dad began using '6-7' in mundane contexts. The key is not to fight the trend but to neutralise it through overexposure. After all, nothing makes a child abandon a phrase faster than hearing their parent say it.
This approach aligns with basic child psychology: kids rebel against structure. Banning '6-7' gives it an allure it doesn't deserve. Instead, explain why constant repetition is annoying, and model alternative ways to communicate. The goal isn't to eliminate the phrase but to reduce its frequency to manageable levels.
Ultimately, '6-7' is a passing fad. Like 'eat my shorts' before it, this too shall fade. The challenge is surviving the phase without losing your sanity—or your sense of humour.
