The words that my kids are NEVER allowed to say. What are your kids not allowed to say?

My Dad has always said that people who use swearwords show a real lack of intelligence because they can’t think of a more descriptive way to state their feelings.

Dad believes that words like “F*&K” should be left for when you hit your thumb with a hammer. My problem is, I never use hammers so tend to use “F*&K” all too often.

Based on Dad’s theory, I am really, really unintelligent because at times, I could hold the world record for using the F word as a noun, verb, adverb & adjective all in the same sentence. It’s not something I’m proud of and when I’m reminded to ‘speak more like a lady’ by Dad, I certainly clean up my act. I also try my absolute best not to swear around the kids, it’s not fair on them to be exposed to big horrid swear words so young but I must confess, I often slip up.

Strangely and contrary to Dad’s thoughts, swearing doesn’t offend me but there are some words that are absolutely and unequivocally the biggest No No’s where I absolutely flip if I hear the kids saying them.

Our kids are young and at an age where sticks and stones may break their bones but words can really hurt and if they learn early what is right and wrong in terms of speaking to each other, then they’re likely not to be nasty horrid children in the playground. Words can hurt but many words hold a lot more meaning than being a simple harmless insult, some words can stay with a child into adulthood and therefore here are a few of the words that are absolutely banned in our house:

1. HATE: This word cannot be used in any form in my house. I think it’s the strongest word in the English dictionary and an absolute never to be said in our house.  “I hate you”,  “I hate veges”, “I hate my sister”, “I hate going to the shops” cannot be uttered in any way. There’s enough hatred in the world without anyone in my family adding to it.
2. STUPID: Calling someone (especially a child) stupid is absolutely out of the biggest insults you can dish out. It pits the name caller as smarter or more superior than the other and no one is stupid. Everyone has skills and abilities and some have more than others but it doesn’t make you ‘stupid’ if you can’t do something as well as another.
3. BORED: I haven’t heard any of my kids actually say this word but if they did, I would flip. Boredom is the sign of an unimaginative mind and when you have a toy room full of toys, bookshelf full of books, a backyard with bikes, a pool and a plethora of NintendoDS and game consoles, then there’s NO REASON at all to be bored.
4. JESUS CHRIST: This one is a throw back from my childhood where Mum taught us that blasphemy just wasn’t on. I understand that to others it’s only an expression and perhaps anyone who’s not religious use it the same way I say “F&*K” but with kids going to a Catholic primary school, it’s just a sign of respect more than anything, last thing I would want them to do is fall off a chair and shout this at the top of their lungs. Not a good look.

These are only four things I ask of the kids and for the most part, they follow the rules. They know what swearwords are bad words but tend to hold adults accountable for saying ‘bad words’ rather than swearing themselves. Phew. That should last until they’re about 13? At that point, I’m going to send them to my Dad to take over and tell them his theory on swearing and intelligence. Just as long as he doesn’t call them stupid.

What words were you not allowed to say when you were a kid? What won’t you let your kids say?