This is simply programmers terminology. A throwover from Object Oriented applications, if C-los is correct in his statement.
It may look odd to you, but it has less to do with childishness and more to do with the parent-child relationship as to how the boards work.
I am, of course, guessing. Again, however, it probably refers to that particular object relationship rather than anything else. If you can, just dismiss it as programmer's babble.