Why Your Child Curses

‘Poopy Butt’, ‘Jerk’, ‘Meanie’ are a few of the names I hear from my own clients when they talk to their parents or even describe their parents to me. But, for this blog, I am specifically talking about curse words. You know the one’s I am talking about. Many, many, many children and teens curse, you are not alone in this. In my experience, the children I work with are cursing for a reason. They are not doing it to be mean, get in trouble, or cause more chaos. They are doing for reasons we don’t often think about. I have one particular client who often screams “F*** you” loudly to her teachers and parents when she is upset. Does she get their attention? Absolutely. Maybe not in the way she was hoping, but she definitely had everyone turning their heads. Take a look at a few reasons why your child may be cursing.

1.     They want your attention- So, she screamed “F*** you” and we definitely heard her, looked, and reacted. She got what she wanted. Maybe she was feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or frustrated. The easiest way for her to get your attention is through acting out. Try to sit down and sort out what it is she is actually feeling. Maybe she simply needs more one-on-one attention.

2.     They learned it from you- Yes, adults can be the culprits sometimes. What we do, they do. What they hear, they say. Our children look up to us, model our behavior, and strive to be like us. Be careful what you say around them, as they are like sponges and will soak up your commentary.

3.     They want to fit in- This goes for both children and teens. Often I hear from client’s that they learned curse words from their peers. Just like children modeling adults, they model their peers too. Anything that’s funny to them, they want to be a part of. Boogers? Funny. The “F” word? Funnier. They want to fit in and be a part of the fun. Most of the time, they have no idea what the word means however they know it to be a bad word. They use it simply because other’s are using it and want to feel a sense of belonging.

4.     They struggle to express themselves- This is the main reason children curse. Children especially are still forming emotional reasoning, understanding, and concepts. They are just learning what emotions and feelings are and often times struggle to articulate what it is they are experiencing. I recommended making ‘Feelings’ cards, which I use with my own clients. They allow children to pick from a host of feelings they may be feeling and then can vocalize them to you aloud.

So, next time your little one spews out a bad word, take some time to understand what it is that they really need in that moment. Maybe its simply a hug, some attention, or finding the real words to express what they are feeling. Avoid punishing severely the first, second, or even third time you hear the curse word. Take the time to really help them vocalize what their experience is.