Cooties

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Cootie Game 01a

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South Bend News-Times, April 7, 1922.JPG

Cooties is a term used in North American and Australian children's culture to refer to an imaginary disease or condition, often used in the context of teasing or social exclusion. The concept is similar to the idea of "germs" and is typically used to suggest that someone is unclean or undesirable.

Etymology

The word "cooties" is believed to have originated from the World War I slang term "cootie," which referred to lice. The term was later adopted by children and evolved into a more playful concept.

Cultural Significance

Cooties are often mentioned in the context of playground games and social interactions among children. The idea is that cooties can be "caught" through physical contact or proximity to someone who is deemed to have them. This can lead to social exclusion or teasing, often based on arbitrary or superficial criteria.

Cootie Catcher

A cootie catcher is a type of origami fortune teller that children use to play games and predict each other's futures. It is also sometimes used to "diagnose" someone with cooties.

Games and Activities

Several games and activities revolve around the concept of cooties. These include:

• Cootie Tag: A variation of the game of tag, where the person who is "it" is said to have cooties and must tag others to pass them on.
• Cootie Shots: A pretend vaccination that children give each other to become immune to cooties. This is often accompanied by a rhyme, such as "Circle, circle, dot, dot, now you've got the cootie shot."

Psychological Impact

While the concept of cooties is generally considered harmless fun, it can sometimes contribute to feelings of exclusion or bullying. Understanding the social dynamics of such games can help in addressing issues related to childhood bullying and social development.

In Popular Culture

Cooties have been referenced in various forms of popular culture, including television shows, movies, and books. The term is often used to evoke nostalgia or to illustrate the innocence and simplicity of childhood.

See Also

• Bullying
• Social exclusion
• Childhood games
• Lice