The Changing Nature of Childhood Swearing

Children have always swore. Swearing by its very nature requires boundaries and children know all about them.

These boundaries are set by culture and dictate what is publicly acceptable in different groupings. In the 1960's very little was acceptable and I just about got away with flipping heck and sugar. Urinating was weeing and breaking wind was trumping.

 

 

Utterances of words like F*ck, B*llocks and even Sh*t or F*rt  would have meant death by firing squad with my Mum, Dad and Schoolteachers loading the ammo!

 

 

As culture shifts so too do what is considered a swearing. Now that I work in Education I've been astonished to find that weeing is now peeing and trumping is now farting. The boundaries have changed and not just for kids but for adults too. Everyone says pee and fart in front of each other nowadays, in class, in public and in the home.

 

 

So what else will be acceptable soon from our Kids? Have you any views on childhood language readers?