# Children's Dictionary

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 11, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337 "2010-11-11T18:23:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337/1 "2010-11-11T18:23:09Z")

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I was hoping someone out there can help me. I need a simple dictionary for my 7 year.

I can find lots of dictionaries that seem reasonable for American spellings but we are Canadian (and colour is spelled with a ‘u’ here for example).

Any teachers or parents offer some insight?

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337/2 "2010-11-12T05:49:40Z")

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Do you use all the same spellings as the British do, or only some of them?

If you do use most or all of them would a British English dictionary work for you?

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**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337/3 "2010-11-12T20:16:18Z")

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> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#):
>
> Do you use all the same spellings as the British do, or only some of them?
> 
> If you do use most or all of them would a British English dictionary work for you?

We use the same spellings but not the same pronunciation. Mind you, I think the pronunciation is moot at her age, any way…

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337/4 "2010-11-12T20:19:24Z")

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We use a blend of the two systems actually. We’re a strange lot.

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**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-dictionary/560337/5 "2010-11-14T19:53:34Z")

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I’m not really sure how smart a 7 year old is and what’s to stop him or her from using a regular dictionary, but the [Student’s Oxford Canadian Dictionary](http://www.fedpubs.com/subject/refer/hsoxfdic.htm) is targeted to the 14+ age range, so it might be suitable for your daughter. There’s a kids version called[My First Canadian Oxford Dictionary](http://www.amazon.ca/My-First-Canadian-Oxford-Dictionary/dp/0195417984) which might be more appropriate.