Parents are used to getting weird advice all the time, but this one might just top them all.
One neuroscientist who studied the impact of swearing has a surprising suggestion for parents: Teach your kids about swear words.
It might seem counterintuitive but her reasoning actually makes a lot of sense.
Most parents feel shame and embarrassment when that happens, and are quick to discipline their child.
Profanity and curse words have been recorded in human history as early as medieval times. Many of the English language's modern swear words have their roots in early German or Scandinavian languages.
While these words may differ in sound and meaning, most people understand that swear words are considered impolite. These words can have a negative connotation because they are often used to express extreme anger or dislike.
Swear words are pretty much a staple in most movies and television shows for adults these days.
We've come a long way from Clark Gable telling Vivien Leigh, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," in Gone With The Wind. That line is considered by many to be the first swear word included in an American film.
However, one neuroscientist says that teaching swear words to your children could actually be a good thing.
In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Dr. Byrne explained why it's a good idea for parents to teach their children about swear words at a young age.
Rather, she wants parents to explain which words are considered "swear" words and have a meaningful conversation with their kids about how they can hurt people.
Words get around fast on the playground, and parents can prepare themselves and their kids by taking the initiative to have this discussion.
"I want to equip parents to cope with that moment of shame and embarrassment of 'my kid swore in a place that was inappropriate,'” she said in an interview. “Instead of saying ‘we are going to shut this conversation down,’ talking about why that is inappropriate.”
"If we don't talk about swearing with our kids and they learn swearing just from their classmates on the playground, they're not going to have a sense of how swearing affects people's feelings," she explained.
She said swearing helps build relationships and trust between people. Her research found that people tend to swear more for happy emotions than out of anger or pain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the F-bomb can be traced back to a convict's nickname, which appeared on a court document in 1310.
Researchers at Keele University discovered that participants in a study who swore could endure pain 50% longer than those who didn't swear.
Instead of punishing children for using them, Dr. Byrne says to use this opportunity to find better outlets when children feel angry or frustrated.
