Swearing at school

[BadwordMcGee]

I've named changed as told people in RL about this.

Would appreciate what, if anything you'd do about this situation.

DC1 is nearly 6 - year 2 at primary school. His best friend clearly has a different home life to us, with different values. This child has been teaching DC swear words and encouraging him to say them to other children in the class to get him in trouble. First we had "fuck" and today "cunt". Fuck was overheard by the teacher but another child told the teacher that Best Friend had told DC to say it, and DC didn't get in trouble. Today's cunt wasn't heard by anyone as DC didn't repeat it except to me.

After the fuck incident we had a chat with DC about appropriate language and 'friends' getting us I trouble, not repeating etc. And it's clearly sunk in as he didn't do it today. But he feels sad his friend is doing this and I'm also sad he's being exposed to this. We don't sweat at home.

What advice do you suggest?

Point 2 is that Best Friends mum keeps angling for a play date - wanting DC to go to their house. I'm uncomfortable with this and have so far declinedam I being OTT?

And yes, I know kids will hear swearing etc at school, I was more think crap and bugger!

I would be more concerned about the fact his supposed best friend is deliberately trying to get him in trouble, than with the swearing per se. I would definitely keep up with the chats about not doing naughty things just because a “friend” tells us to and does a good friend do that kind of thing?

Maybe have the friend round to yours and you can see what he is like a bit better?

I agree with PP - why is his friend getting him into trouble?

I swear like a docker (not at my children obviously but the occasional expletive slips out).

My 8yo knows the swear words, that they’re grown up words and doesn’t say them. I’m ok with that rather than give them mythical status.

YANBU. I'd be horrified if my 5 year old was using the word "cunt".

I would personally either discuss directly with the parents or, if that's not an option, make an excuse re the playdate.

It's tough shit frankly, you don't want them being friends long term if that's the kind of thing they get up to aged 5.

Does the other child have older siblings at all?

I would be more concerned about why the friend is trying to get him into trouble is it curiosity and seeing what will happen? or is he being deliberately nasty? I would speak to the teacher about this.

@Thesearmsofmine

Does the other child have older siblings at all?

I would be more concerned about why the friend is trying to get him into trouble is it curiosity and seeing what will happen? or is he being deliberately nasty? I would speak to the teacher about this.

No older siblings. I suspect mum swears freely, which I don't actually have a huge issue with if approached correctly with kids - e.g not making them in to a big thing like this has.

I'm not sure why the other child is doing it - I get the impression it's not the happiest home life, but I could be wrong there.