How should children address adults? Mr/Miss/Mrs + last name (Miss Smith) or Mr./Miss/Mrs + first name (Miss Julie) - or just first name? What is proper protocol these days?
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Jez is recovering
ANSWERS: 13
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When I become an adult, I would prefer that my parents call me by my first name.
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If the adults are close friends of the family, kids should call them by their first names. But if they aren't good friends, the kids should use Mr./Miss/Mrs. and the last name.
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I think that depends upon the adult being addressed. I prefer my first name, although many of my friends' children call me "Ms. [AR's First Name]". If the child is addressing a parent, "mom" or "dad" is always good. If the child is addressing a teacher, "Mr./Ms. [Teacher's Last Name]" is good. Some people prefer to be addressed by their title Mr./Ms. [Lastname]. Personally, you would offend me by calling me Mrs. no matter what lastname or first name you used, and regardless of my marital status. I'll also be one adult to admit that some adults are so disrespectful to children, that they don't deserve to be addressed in any respectful manner. Thus, it depends upon whom the child is addressing at the time.
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I think it depends on the adult, what the adult prefers and where you live. If the child doesn't know, it should be Ms./Mrs./Mr. Whatever. The adult can then say "You may call me Jane." In the South, it is common to for children to call friend's parents and their parent's friends as Mr. or Ms. First name.
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Children should address adults as adults address adults. I remember when I was at school, they insisted that we were to call every male teacher "Sir" and I refused to do so on the account of none of the teachers at my school had a knighthood.
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I prefer children to address me as Mr & last name. I also prefer to be addressed in this way by adults younger than myself and women my own age.
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I teach my son to address elders as Mr. or Ms. then their last name. That is how I was raised. Then, after that, if the adult says " You can call me ..." then that is fine. I want him to learn the respectful way first, then let them determine what they want to be called. If they don't correct him, the Mr or Ms stays. Respect goes a long way on a first impression. I don't believe it will hurt him to learn that early, and have it be a part of his everyday life. At his preschool, they are very adament about how leaders are to be addressed. His teacher, on the first day, said, "My name is Ms. Denise, you may call me Ms. Denise." Denise is her first name, but that is how she wants to be addressed, so that is fine.
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For close friends we use Uncle / Aunty quite a lot. But finding a happy medium is difficult. I think Mr and Mrs is just too antiquated these days. It makes the kid seem repressed rather than respectful. Many of my kids' friends call me Tom, but some call me Uncle Tom and one Mr. Tom! I don't mind because if they called me Mr. P-C I'd find it strange and hard to have a relationship with them. Too stand offish.
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It depends on the children's relationship with the adult. If they are close...first name is fine...if it's a not so close relationship...then the other option works. +3
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It would depend on the adult.
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title last name until otherwise indicated.... adults should do the same. introduction by first name is indicating otherwise. I find it rude when in a job which makes you wear a first name name tag people go out of their way to use your name... but I am apparently a minority in that, apparently some people think strangers referencing you as though you are casual with eachother makes them feel special.
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Mr. Ms. Last Name unless we are really close and the child hears the first name a lot; and it's okay with the adult. +2
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I feel the assumed / initial address should be Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms + last name. The adult being addressed will appreciate the respect shown by doing so and will let the child know at that point what they are most comfortable with.
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