Lots of adults think children should never swear. Many Short & Curly listeners tell us they secretly swear behind their parent’s backs. So what’s wrong with swearing anyway? Aren't they just harmless words?
Brains Trust – Anula Primary School, Darwin: Mariah, Megan, Dylan, Aeldrich, Lily
Oct 1
Should you have to pass a test to have kids?
We test for everything: to get a licence, to move to the next grade, to prove you're ready to use a pen. But when it comes to becoming a biological parent, there's no test to pass. Should there be? Would a parenting test be a good idea?Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, P ... Show More
22m 30s
Sep 30
Is it wrong to think bad thoughts about people?
We all have thoughts about other people that we’d never say aloud. But do our private thoughts say something about the kind of people we are? Or is it only our actions that count? Brains Trust - Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Layla, Avjot, Johanna, Imogen, Sampada, Claudia.Li ... Show More
20m 6s
Sep 30
Graffiti or Gallery? When does graffiti become street art?
Ever walked past a spray-painted wall and thought, "That's actually really cool and beautiful!" But is it art or just stylish vandalism? Molly and Carl grab some spray cans and dive into the messy, colourful world of graffiti to ask: when does a rebellious scribble become art, an ... Show More
23 m
Dec 2019
Why Are Some Words 'Bad'?
In this episode, we tackle why some words are "bad". Plus: Why do people say bad words? Why aren't kids allowed to say cuss words? Why is the middle finger bad? And adults, don't worry, we won't actually be using any bad words in this episode! But we will explore the psychology a ... Show More
23m 8s
Feb 2024
Rebecca Roache, "For F*ck's Sake: Why Swearing Is Shocking, Rude, and Fun" (Oxford UP, 2023)
Swearing can be a powerful communicative act, for good or ill. The same word can incite violence or increase intimacy. How is swearing so multivalent in its power? Is it just all those harsh “c” and “k” sounds? Does swearing take its power from taboo meaning? Why is swearing some ... Show More
1 h
Jul 2023
Help - my kid won't stop swearing
Like it or not, children will learn to swear from school, videos, even their parents. So what can you do to stop your child being a pottymouth?
In this Help Me, Maggie episode Maggie Dent explains why children might swear, how to discourage them from using offensive words and wh ... Show More
8m 55s
Nov 2022
Happier Parents, Happier Kids Pt 2: Letting Children Try and Fail
It's tempting to tie a child's shoe lace, tidy their rooms or help with their science projects - to see that these tasks are done right - but parents are depriving their kids of the valuable experience of falling, failing, and f-ing up. Former Stanford dean Julie Lythcott-Haims ... Show More
31m 54s