It's normal for kids to swear at one time or another. Young kids will often repeat something they've heard. Older kids often want to test their parents' reactions. If your child has started using a few choice words, there are several discipline techniques you can use to curb their use of inappropriate language.
“Parents often wonder if this behavior is normal and how they should respond to it. Our data show that swearing emerges by age two and becomes adult-like by ages 11 or 12. By the time children enter school, they have a working vocabulary of 30-40 offensive words….
Cursing is sometimes allowed but never to degrade or bully anyone, in or outside of the family. Some parents allow their tweens/teens to curse out of frustration, but forbid profanity-filled name calling.
Children aged 5-11 years might swear to express emotions, get a reaction, or fit in socially. It's good to talk with children about swearing. They can understand that some words hurt or offend others. You can help children find other ways to express emotions.
One possible answer to why kids aren't allowed to swear, usually by parents, caretakers, and teachers, is that kids can't differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate.
Children imitate swearing in others
“Imitation is a big part of development,” Sperling says. Children see and hear what's said after someone stubs their toe or yells at another driver, and they decide to try it. Part of this is emulating a sibling or parent; part is attention; part is the reaction.
Young children often swear because they're exploring language. They might be testing a new word, perhaps to understand its meaning. Sometimes swearing happens accidentally when children are learning to say words. Children might also be trying to express a feeling like frustration.
It's normal for kids to swear at one time or another. Young kids will often repeat something they've heard. Older kids often want to test their parents' reactions. If your child has started using a few choice words, there are several discipline techniques you can use to curb their use of inappropriate language.
We will often use swear words "to vent some emotion", she says. "If you're angry or particularly happy, swearing is a catharsis. Swearing also centres on taboos. Around the world swear words will tend to cluster around certain topics: lavatorial matters, sex, religion."
Previously speaking with Global News, cognitive scientist Benjamin Bergen said casually swearing around kids is fine. “The use of fleeting expletives doesn't have any impact at all on their well-being, on their socialization… as far as we can tell,” Bergen said.
Schools must have a strong policy to deter students from being profane or obscene primarily because they are often vulgar in nature, the use of these types of words/materials often leads to distractions, and can occasionally lead to fights or altercations.
For many teens, swearing is a way of fitting in with peers and “trying out” adult behaviours, adds Arnall. “It tends to peak in the early teen years, and then diminishes as teens mature.” So don't worry that the newly expanded vocabulary of your 13-year-old daughter means she's doomed to a life as a potty mouth.
(informal) To vigorously affirm the truth of a statement, knowing that the failure to do so may result in a punishment from God.
used for emphasis: I hope to God (that) he turns up. I swear to God (that) I didn't know about it.
Studies have shown that swearing relieves stress, dulls the sensation of pain, fosters camaraderie among peers and is linked with traits like verbal fluency, openness and honesty. And the effects of cursing are physical as well as mental.
The right age to give kids their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn't as important as your kid's maturity level, ability to follow rules at home and school, and sense of responsibility as well as your own family's needs.
Typically, it's best for children under 13 not to engage in romantic relationships as they are still developing emotionally and cognitively. Healthy friendships are encouraged for teenagers between 13 and 15, but romantic relationships could be too much for them to handle.
“They will pick the words they hear most frequently and the words spoken with the most animation. So if you don't want your kids to use cuss words, which is a nice goal, you would want to stop cussing before they are even a year of age.”
Often kids swear because they're frustrated or angry about being asked to do something that's hard for them or that they find boring. Or maybe they'd rather be playing video games or hanging out with their friends. Swearing is their immature and ineffective way of dealing with frustration.
Letting children swear is a personal parenting choice. Researchers have found that children go unharmed when they hear swear words. So long as curse words are not accompanied by manipulation or abuse, swear words will not negatively affect your child.
Sometimes, children with ADHD use offensive language in order to get your attention. Other times, they just succumb to impulsivity. And often they also lack the perspective-taking skills they need to anticipate how their words may impact others.