kids cursing

[Anonymous]

Another going back into society rant...what would you have done style.


Took the fam to the tennis court to practice and play after school.

Right next to the court there is a basketball court. 2 young boys upper el or junior high?? are playing but every other word is a curse word.

They said everything from fagg%# to fuc% loudly as they are playing each other. Everything they say is reverberating and we can hear everything on the tennis court. Of course, no parent in sight.

What would you have done?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry to tell you this but it's normal for 11-12 kids (esp. boys) to start cursing. Begins in middle school. It's just the world we live in today. I would've ignored them, walked away and go somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Agree. If I know the kids, I’ll say something (pool, games) but I know many for years of coaching and involvement in sports. So I would just quietly remind kids I know that there may be younger kids around and to PLEASE TRY to keep it clean for the G-rated crowd.

If I don’t know the kids, I say nothing.

[Anonymous]

I would tell my kids that I don't want to hear that language out of their mouths. And I would carry on playing.

[Anonymous]

Hate to tell you this, but kids hear it from kindergarten on.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a normal age to be out with a friend playing basketball with “no parent in sight”.

Kids often swear when their parents aren’t around. I’d tell my boys they better never talk like that in public but I’d probably leave the other kids alone. Kids rebel in dumb ways at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another going back into society rant...what would you have done style.


Took the fam to the tennis court to practice and play after school.

Right next to the court there is a basketball court. 2 young boys upper el or junior high?? are playing but every other word is a curse word.

They said everything from fagg%# to fuc% loudly as they are playing each other. Everything they say is reverberating and we can hear everything on the tennis court. Of course, no parent in sight.

What would you have done?

You seem upset parents weren’t watching ten year olds. That’s normal.

[Anonymous]

Honestly it would depend on the ages of the kids I had with me.

With my middle schoolers, we would have kept playing and laughed to ourselves later at how ridiculous they sounded as they were trying to be cool.

Any younger than middle school, we would have left.

Absolutely would not have said anything to them either way to avoid becoming a target.

[Anonymous]

I personally wouldn’t say anything. That’s what happens when you go out in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would tell my kids that I don't want to hear that language out of their mouths. And I would carry on playing.

+1. I’m fine with my kids knowing swear words and that other people use them. They know they aren’t allowed to talk like that.

[Anonymous]

I would tell them to knock it off. I would expect another adult to say this to my kids too if they were behaving that way.

[Anonymous]

Well I love swearing! But kids need to learn it’s not very socially acceptable and people can get offended…there is a difference between swear words and language targeting a person or group. I think it’s just a teachable moment.

[Anonymous]

I would - and have- said something. It's something like "hey guys? I'm really glad you're having so much fun. Do you mind not using hate speech and f-bombs though? I have young, impressionable kids. Maybe some your mama insults instead?"

I've never had it go badly.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of the responders, when reading the OP, were quick to read “cursing,” but glossed over the example of “faggot.”

Usually that gets a different response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would - and have- said something. It's something like "hey guys? I'm really glad you're having so much fun. Do you mind not using hate speech and f-bombs though? I have young, impressionable kids. Maybe some your mama insults instead?"

I've never had it go badly.

This. If you approach it right (don't yell) they will often respond. Tweens and teens may be clueless, and misguided, and wrong, but even they can understand that what they're saying is not for younger ears.