When Kids Say The Darnest Things

As our kids get older, they may start experimenting with more colourful and offensive language. What should we do when kids start dropping the F-bomb?

It’s inevitable – kids will one day say something that you don’t want them to say right when you least expect it. Children often seem to have little (if any) filter and while what they can come out with can, at the best of times, be downright embarrassing for parents, sometimes it treads into a bit of a darker realm of conversation that includes expletives and swearing.

So where do children pick up this language? How do they learn it and what can we do to curb the language and nip it in the bud before it gets out of control? Here is some information for parents who may have recently overheard a child swearing, or just for those who want to make sure their kid doesn’t utter inappropriate language again.

Crying Foul

You might be wondering where kids picked up this kind of language and the answer is quite possibly anywhere and everywhere. Younger children will imitate the things they hear spoken, including foul language, so it could be likely they are picking it up from you, even if you think they can’t understand you. Something as seemingly simple as stubbing your toe and uttering a bad word can lead to children picking it up, so be mindful of what comes out of your mouth when the kids are around, even though it seems near impossible to filter yourself all the time.