What to Do When Your Kid Swears

Cuss words are never pleasant; we want to keep our kids from learning foul language as much as we can. But while we can protect ourselves at home, it’s possible our kids will hear profanities from other people, and even from the television. We might even accidentally spit a bad word or two ourselves, and unintentionally “enrich” our children’s vocabulary.

If your child is swearing, consider the following:

Avoid laughing. Young kids don’t really understand the meaning of some of the things they say, and let’s face it: toddlers who swear can be cute and funny. But if you laugh, you unintentionally communicate that swearing is a good thing, and should be repeated.

Younger kids will start repeating the behavior to get your attention. Older kids may even interpret your laughter for approval. If you want to get your child to stop swearing, avoid showing positive reactions when they do swear.


Don’t overreact. While laughing is not suggested, getting angry is also discouraged. Keep a straight face and try your best to be stoic instead. Ignore the cuss word.

When parents overreact, it gives children motivation to repeat what they just did. Anger is still attention, and kids who crave attention may see swearing as a good way to get you to notice them.

Explain why swearing is bad. Let your kids understand what swear words actually mean. Many times, kids swear for reasons outside of wanting to insult another person. Maybe they want to appear cool, mature, or “in” with their peers. Maybe they just find swearing as a way of relieving stress. Maybe swearing is just a habit they picked from those around them, or celebrities they admire. It’s important then to make them see that cuss words are actually hurtful words that no one has the right to say.

Be a role model.If you don’t want your kids to swear, don’t swear! Watch your own language closely. If you slip and they overhear a cuss word, apologize. Kids follow what adults do.

Implement consistent rules. If swearing is not allowed in your home, don’t let Uncle Bob get away with it! Reprimanding your children but not reacting when others do so confuses children. If you’re in the company of people you dare not chastise, emphasize later in private that it’s a behavior you don’t approve of.

Replace cuss words. There are a lot of words your child can play with to express their emotion. For instance, saying “oh fudge” is better than saying something inappropriate. It may even be a fun activity to form silly expressions. When they successfully do so, then this is the proper time to laugh or be amused as it’s a habit you want to encourage.

If your kids are swearing because they want to say something awful to another person, teach them how to express what they feel assertively and not aggressively. You may also teach them anger management skills, so that they will know not to confront another person at the height of their emotion. There are other ways to express anger than being verbally abusive.