The use of the word 'kiddies' is presented as sarcastic due to the poet mocking parents who have a warped perception of their children, thinking they are innocent and angelic.
Larkin uses animals to convey the message that young children can be cruel and unsympathetic. 'Shallow' symbolises the meaningless existence the animals have and 'shadeless grass' presents their habitats are uncomfortable in the sun's harsh glare.
'Huddled my empty bowls, they sleep'
'Huddled' creates the image of a small space which is extremely cramped and intolerable. The bowls are also 'empty' which indicates the animals are starved and uncared for. In the next line, the constant repetition of the word 'no' in 'no dark, no dam, no earth, no grass' enforces negligence.
'Mam, get us one to keep'
The child comes across very demanding which suggests he/she is extremely spoilt. The children perceive the animal as a toy object which they can carelessly abandon. Nevertheless, Larkin adds a subtle hint in this line which implies the children's behaviour is down to the mother due to 'traditional housewife roles' which states how the mother should look after the children. The women should teach her children to be decent, not unpleasant, impolite and presumptuous.
'Living toys are something novel, But it soon wears off somehow'
The animals are diminished to 'living toys' which implies how they are now just an object for children's pleasure, however 'it soon wears off.' This shows how fickle children are, but also that children are not innocent, they are shallow and reckless.
'Fetch the shoebox, fetch the shovel- Mam we're playing funerals now'
'Playing' is an activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation so the fact that the children was 'playing' funerals suggests how secretly dark minded they are. Even though children are immature and irresponsible, the reader feels strong anger towards them because they are careless and find death a 'game' to be played with.
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