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Swearing around kids (aggregatet.org)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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My impression is that people in North America are very careful not to swear around their kids. I’ve gotten the impression (from pop culture, so dubious quality) that one of the reasons is they’re frequently reprimanded at school for this.

I (born late 80’s) wasn’t raised this way, and I don’t plan on raising my kids that way either. To me, swearing is part of the language and an abstinence only approach to it seems backwards in and for exactly the same reasons the same approach to sex ed does: the trick is in how and when, not “don’t do it, it’s immoral”.

I assume there are people with different strategies out there and I’d appreciate your view on this!

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago

I think there are a number of thigs people generally don't allow kids to have/do, not because it's immoral but because it creates a hassle for you, the parent. Take sharpies or other permanent markers for example. If you give one to a 4 or 5 year old, not matter how much you teach them about "how and when" to use them, you're still guaranteed to get sharpie marks on places you don't want them, and while it's not the end of the world it can be a drag.

Of course it's up to you to decide when's the appropriate age to have access to permanent markers, cans of spray paint and pocket knives.

The issue with swearing is that kids copy everything you do, so even before school age you can create hassles if your four year old shouts out at the wrong moment "Eat shit, ya fuckin cunt!" This might sound funny but it's possible to unintentionally set your kids up with habitual patterns of behavior that create unnecessary drama -both for you and your child- that would have been a lot easier to avoid in the first place.