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YoungPoll (Swearing)

One Poll

14 February 2009

FOUL MOUTH
NEWS COPY
Nine out of ten 11-year-olds have heard their parents swear, a study revealed yesterday (Fri).
The average child hears their mum or dad utter expletives six times a week and almost half of those polled admitted it upsets them.
Worryingly, the other 54 per cent said they were used to it.
The poll of 3,000 11-year-olds also revealed kids are using swear words at an earlier age now, with 41 per cent admitting they used expletives in their everyday language because they heard their parents use them.
And 86 per cent felt that their parents' swearing set a bad example towards them.
A spokesman for youth market research site www.youngpoll.com said: ''When youngsters hear their parents use swear words so frequently, it's inevitable that they will pick up bad habits.
''Parents should be aware that children are easily influenced and will try and replicate what they say whether it's swear words or not.
''When adults hear a young child swear it's very easy to find it humorous, yet any use of bad language should be nipped in the bud at an early age.''
Almost two thirds (64 per cent) of those polled have even been disciplined at school because of their use of bad language.
Yet a conscientious 34 per cent of youngsters have tried to curb the error of their ways and asked their parents to stop using swear words in front of them.
A spokesperson from www.youngpoll.com said: ''It's worrying kids are telling their parents not improve their language.
''Mums and dads should be taking more responsibility when it comes to their child's vocabulary and refrain from using any form of profanity around them.''
ENDS