Informal plural of kiddie, a word for small children or kids, often used in a playful or affectionate way.
From 'kid' (child), with the diminutive suffix '-ie' added, then pluralized to '-ies.' This informal version became popular in the early 1900s as a playful alternative to 'children.'
Calling children 'kiddies' is affectionate but would sound condescending to actual kids—adults use it to signal they're being playful, while kids themselves prefer 'kids,' which sounds more respectful of their developing maturity.
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