Childchildren

Childchildren is a neologistic term used in informal writing and online discussions to refer to the offspring of one’s own children, that is, grandchildren. It is not a standard term in formal kinship studies and has no fixed definition in scholarly literature. When used, it may serve to emphasize the direct generational link between a grandparent and grandchild or to draw attention to intergenerational roles within a family, but its meaning can vary by author.

Usage and interpretation vary by context. In genealogical, sociological, or literary contexts, childchildren is usually presented as a playful or rhetorical device rather than a precise label. It can appear in blogs, social media, or creative writing where authors want to foreground lineage, continuity, or caregiving dynamics that involve grandchildren. Because it is not standardized, readers should rely on the author’s definition in each instance, and many will prefer the clarity of the conventional term grandchild. Some critics may view the coinage as stylistic rather than informative, and dismiss it as unnecessary for describing family relationships.

See also grandchild, kinship terminology, intergenerational relationships.