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Over the past year, one of the biggest child‑led trends to sweep through schools and social media was the “6‑7” craze. If you missed it, “6‑7” (spoken as “six seven”) is a nonsense phrase paired with a simple hand gesture. It has no fixed meaning, but it appeared in thousands of videos and quickly became part of playground culture around the world. Children shouted it in classrooms, used it at sports events, and repeated it online with enthusiasm that puzzled many adults.

Researchers who study children’s media and play suggest that trends like 6‑7 are not new. They are part of a long tradition of children inventing secret languages, inside jokes and playful gestures. From Pig Latin to clapping games and doodles passed through generations, children have always created shared “codes” that feel separate from adult life. These activities give young people a sense of belonging, independence and fun during their tightly structured school days.

The appeal of 6‑7 lay in its simplicity. Anyone could join in. It spread easily between children, across languages and even into online worlds like Roblox. Deaf children took part using sign language. Because it seemed meaningless to adults, children enjoyed the feeling of having something “of their own.” This sometimes caused disruptions. Teachers reported students shouting “6‑7” in lessons, and even restaurants noticed its influence when some jokingly tried to avoid ticket number 67.

Although trends come and go, this example highlights how children use both offline play and digital platforms to socialise, be creative and explore independence. While it may look silly from the outside, these shared moments help children build relationships, develop cultural understanding and experiment with identity in safe, playful ways. Remember, there is a child in all of us!

Have a playful weekend.