Why Do Kids Swear?

“Kids say the darnedest things” is a saying that we’ve all heard. And if you’re a parent, you know just how true it is. But when they utter expletives, it can be rather shocking.

When very young children swear, it’s usually a matter of repeating things they’ve heard. They are just learning to use language to communicate, so they mimic any word they can. They are not trying to hurt or offend anyone, they’re just developing verbal skills.

Older children swear for a number of reasons. If it’s a word they don’t hear often, they may be using it because they do not realize that it is offensive. They might just think it’s a cool new word to try. When adults say swear words they tend to emphasize them, which makes them all the more appealing to youngsters.

Kids may also use swear words in an effort to get attention. As a parent, it usually takes us by surprise when our children use such language. It’s not easy to ignore it, especially when it comes out of the blue. So we get upset, or perhaps we laugh. Either way, the child receives attention. Our kids pick up on this, and the next time they’re craving attention, they remember the word that got them attention before. Unfortunately, this often happens at the most inopportune times, such as when waiting in a busy checkout line at the grocery store.

When kids get a little older, they often begin to realize that curse words are viewed as offensive. This is why many children who swear when they are young quit swearing during the preschool or early elementary years. But some keep those swear words filed away for future use. They bring them out when they are feeling frustrated or want to hurt others. And there are some kids who use curse words just to show off in front of their peers.

Where Do They Learn Swear Words?

Kids learn swear words from a variety of sources. And as much as we might not want to admit it, one of the main places they hear these words is at home. Even parents who do their best not to swear in public often swear at home. Even if it just happens when you stub your toe, your child is likely to pick up on it.

Children may also hear swear words on TV and in movies. Many cartoons even contain language that we wouldn’t want our children using, if not outright curse words. This is yet another reason why it’s important to monitor the things our children watch.

Even the most sheltered child is bound to hear a swear word at some point. If you’re lucky, he will never repeat it. But the fact is that most children do use a curse word at some point. If you take it in stride, you may never hear it again. And if you do, a calm explanation of why it is inappropriate could nip your child’s swearing in the bud.

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