Kid 'em it's an emblem (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'an emblem' is the definition.
(totem is a kind of emblem)
'kid 'em' is the wordplay.
'kid' becomes 'tot' (tot is a kind of kid).
'tot'+'em'='TOTEM'
'it's' is the link.
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "symbol representing clan" , "family emblem" , "Revered object" , "Thing of veneration (on a pole?)" , "Object of veneration" .)