Swearing - using bad words

Contents

• What is swearing?
• Why do some kids swear?
• Swearing is not okay
• How to stop swearing
• Dr Kate says

What is swearing?

Swearing is a way of speaking that some people use to express their feelings of anger, annoyance, and frustration, or when they want to hurt someone else's feelings. Sometimes people swear because they think it is smart or funny.
Swear words can be:
	slang words used to describe something a person is too embarrassed to talk about
	racist or sexist words used to hurt someone's feelings
	words used to criticise or put someone down
	words that are blasphemous [say blass-fee-mus] which means words that are about someone's god or religion being used as swear words.

I asked some kids what they thought swearing was and here are some of their replies.
	"Swearing is using a bad word."
	"When you get angry and you say a bad word."
	"Using words that are about God but not in a nice way."
	"Saying words that you know mum would not like to hear you say."
"Using words that you may have heard criminals and cops use in action movies."
"Using words that are racist or sexist."
"Saying bad words to express your feelings of anger or frustration."

Why do some kids swear?

	Some kids swear when they are upset, annoyed, hurt, or just to show off. They may swear to upset others, to get attention, to feel grown up or because they want to be part of a group that swears.
	Maybe they have learned to use these words because they are used in their family or among their friends, and they haven't really thought about whether using these words is okay.
	Some kids may not know that swearing is offensive, rude and upsetting to others.

Swearing is not okay

	In public
	Around young children
	In school
	Around older people
	In the cinema or other public places
	In church, synagogue, mosque or other holy place
	On National television
	Anywhere there are other people who can be upset by swearing.

How to stop swearing

If you are angry or frustrated there are lots of other words you can use to make you feel better.

Usually there are only three or four bad words used by people who swear, so swearing is boring.

Get creative and make up your own words to use instead of using swear words

Often the words you think of are so funny that you end up laughing and feeling better rather than angry and you will not have offended anyone.

A few creative words to start you off: "Oh, sheep" "Heck and double heck!' "Tottering tadpoles" "Silly sausage" "Galloping gremlins!' "Beep and beeping"

Dr Kate says:

"Swearing in public upsets many people. It is really verbal harassment if other people can hear it.

It is good manners to remember where you are and think about other people's rights and feelings. Everyone has the right to feel safe and having to hear loud nasty words can make people feel unsafe. If people are annoying you by using bad language move away from them and don't use it yourself."

Swearing- by Jade There was a little boy named Jonny He was a cute little sonny One day while walking down the park He tripped upon a piece of bark He tripped and nearly said a bad word Then he thought, "I'll use a different word." Swearing's bad it is not good I'll use another word like I should Some find swear words so offensive Instead I'll use a word that's inventive. "Oh bark!"

Swearing
 Ugly words
 Ugly mouths
 Ugly faces
 Ugly feelings
 You can say what you mean
 Using words that are clean.
 BH

We've collected this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.