We were discussing an upcoming home renovation, my husband and I. Now that our daughter is growing older, we will be renovating a downstairs room so she and our youngest daughter will no longer have to share a tiny space. Right now, the room houses a futon to accommodate guests.

What will you do with the crouton?

My husband and I exchanged confused looks.

Can I sleep on the crouton?

You mean the futon, I laughed.

Her mix-up got me to thinking about other words and phrases that I’ve heard kids misuse. Up until the last snowmelt, which was in April, here in Central-Upstate NY, my son was referring to icicles as bicycles. My youngest daughter, just now beginning to associate colors to objects, frequently refers to everything as bluered. My sister, when she was quite small, called those glossy-paged periodicals you read, mazagines. She referred to those things men (and some women) smoke as cigagars. She often played in the backinyard. And when her mother told her to behave she replied, I am being have.

What makes a person say aminals or cimmanon or basghetti?

Can you think of any other funny words children say?