The word "gay"...

[Turtlecouple]

So this morning at school, DS (1st grade) was waiting in line for school to start. He was goofing off with 3 other boys in his class and I wasn't really paying attention to what they were doing, I was chatting with another parent. Then I hear one of the boys say "when I say gay, then you guys jump, and when I say gay 2 times you guys spin around and when I say it 3 times, you guys bend down and touch the ground". I'm not sure what to think or do about it. He wasn't using it in a derogatory way, but it was a weird choice of word for this game they were playing.  I don't even know if he know what it means. I know he has older siblings so probably he heard it from them..

So now, all these thought are running through my head...do I need to have a discussion with my son about what gay means? Should I just let it go? 

[beebalmmama]

I would probably wait to see if your son picks up on it and uses it. If he does and it's in a not so nice or negative way then I would talk about it. It's possible it didn't even phase him if the boy hasn't said it before and like you mentioned the boy may not even know what it means. But then it's amazing what they bring home from their peer interactions. Ugh.

[new2this]

I would watch and see if he says it and how he says it and go from there. 

[nextcommercial]

I think I'd let it go unless you start hearing it from them a lot.   They'll figure it out soon enough.  I still remember using the word "twat" in several sentences until someone told me what it meant.  LOL.  

I actually thought I made that word up.

[beenmum]

 Its not unusual for kids to use words they hear inappropriately. However when these words have connenttations that could be negative, a simple explanation is probably recommanded.

I woudlnt bother now. He isnt using it in a negative way.