Cubby--girlfriend/boyfriend (for pre-schoolers)

[Gerald Cohen]

        One of my students encountered the term "cubby" (= boyfriend
or girlfriend) from a teacher at her son's preschool. Below my
signoff is my student's account.  Is anyone in ads-l familiar with
this term?

Gerald Cohen
University of Missouri-Rolla


[student account of hearing the term "cubby"]:

>My three-year-old son, named Skyler, attends Preschool at a
>religious facility.  When I went to pick him up from class, his
>teacher told me that Skyler has a "Cubby".  I thought a cubbyhole
>for his articles of clothing to go in.  Before I could ask she said
>"Her name is Sara.' While pointing in the direction of a little
>girl.  I asked her why she said "cubby" instead of girlfriend.  She
>informed me that at preschool they don't say boyfriend and
>girlfriend because they associate that term with mom and dad being
>boyfriend and girlfriend.  The preschool associates the actions of
>mom and dad kissing and hugging with that of being boyfriend and
>girlfriend.  They do not want the children to be influenced by this
>term and to act as moms and dads do by being boyfriend and
>girlfriend.  These actions are inappropriate behavior for a
>preschooler to learn.  So instead they use the term "Cubby".
>
>