Talking to little kids.

[revolutionary]

I've yet to come across any Japanese terms of endearment for young children. Here at home, I find myself calling the kids I work with things like sweetie and baby. They're all kindergarten age or less, and most of them like to be spoken to that way. In Japan, would it be appropriate to call the children things like that if you were their teacher? And what are some of the Japanese terms other than "chan" and "kun" someone might use?
I'd appreciate any help.

[Dehitay]

I would use おじょうちゃん for small girls
but I forgot the equivalent for boys
it was probly something like　むすこちゃん

[revolutionary]

Thanks bunches.

Ojiyauchiyan? Did I romanize it right? I always forget how to tell when ん is an m or an n. I'll have to check my book.

[Dehitay]

if you're referring to おじょうちゃん, the romaji is ojouchan

[revolutionary]

Thanks. I just started learning hiragana yesterday. Obviously, I haven't come far in either written or spoken Japanese yet. I'm trying to get better though.

[Mike Cash]

Dehitay wrote:
I would use おじょうちゃん for small girls
but I forgot the equivalent for boys
it was probly something like　むすこちゃん

Never heard that before.

Try ぼく.

[keatonatron]

Mike Cash wrote:
Never heard that before.

Try ぼく.

When refering to a kid? Why? They'll think you're talking about yourself and not them.

[paul_b]

keatonatron wrote:

Mike Cash wrote:
Never heard that before.

Try ぼく.

When refering to a kid?

When talking to a kid.

Why? They'll think you're talking about yourself and not them.

I thought your Japanese was better than that.

[Mike Cash]

Words are inadequate to express my disappointment.

[aKuMu]

revolutionary wrote:
In Japan, would it be appropriate to call the children things like that if you were their teacher?

you call a child boku? :p

[Oyaji]

aKuMu wrote:
you call a child boku? :p

Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.

If you see a little boy crying it would be perfectly normal to ask him:

「ぼく、どうしたの？」

As to the original question, there really are no equivalents to "sweetie" and "honey" and such in Japanese. Even ojousan and boku are not used the same as those words. Usually teachers just call children by their names, often shortened and with "chan" or "kun" added: Ken-chan, Ma-kun, Mi-chan, or whatever.

Recently it has become politically correct even at primary schools for teachers to address children, both boys and girls, by their full names using さん (san): Taro-san, Hanako-san. I personally think it was fine the way it was.

[paul_b]

Oyaji wrote:
Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.

If you see a little boy crying it would be perfectly normal to ask him:

「ぼく、どうしたの？」

Incidentally as of tomorrow the Edict entry will be ...

僕 【ぼく】(n) (1) (male) I; (2) you (used addressing young children); (3) (See 僕(しもべ)) manservant

And I've added the example sentence ...

「ぼくだいじょうぶ」といわれました。 「だいじょうぶ」とこたえました。
I was asked, "You OK, kid?". "Fine," I replied.

The 大辞林 entry can be seen
here

Incidentally it doesn't say so in the dictionary but is that use of ぼく
typically feminine speech?

[Oyaji]

I wouldn't say "feminine" necessarily, because men do say it, but even men usually say it in a very gentle, friendly way, at least in my experience. Even when reproving, "boku" sounds much less harsh than "kimi" or "omae".

[paul_b]

Oyaji wrote:
I wouldn't say "feminine" necessarily, because men do say it

That whole [F] [M] stuff has very fuzzy dividing lines in practice.

[keatonatron]

Oyaji wrote:
Yes, it is very common for adults to call little boys ぼく.

I've never heard that before