The top places kids learn to curse (and yes, you are on the list!)

Germany Debates Expanding Parental Leave BERLIN - AUGUST 31: Oliver H., 42, a married federal employee on 6-month paternity leave, reads to his twin 14-month-old daughters Alma (R) and Lotte at his home on August 31, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Under German law married couples may take 14 months parent leave, to be divided between the two spouses, during which an individual receives two thirds of his or her normal income from the state, up to EUR 1,800 a month. In order to encourage more fathers to take paternity leave, German Family Minister Kristina Schroeder is seeking to lengthen parent leave from the current 14 months to 16 months, though German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble sees the measure as too expensive. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

By Aaron Schachter

We usually blame “that one kid” at school for teaching our children bad words, and according to a new Mott Poll, we are mostly right.

The study found that 65% of parents believe their kids learn swear words from friends and classmates. But before we get too high-and-mighty, the report also holds up a mirror: 45% of parents admitted that they are the ones introducing those words to their children!

The study also highlighted a major shift in how we discipline “potty mouths.” Gone are the days of washing mouths out with soap...in fact, less than half of parents (47%) say swearing is “never okay.” A solid chunk of us (35%) now believe it just “depends on the situation”. Basically, if you stub your toe, or Trevor Lawrence throws a last second interception to lose a playoff game, a little slip-up is understandable, right?

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Ultimately, kids are sponges. Whether they hear it from a YouTuber (58% of parents blame media), a classmate, or their own dad during a football game, they are going to take those words out on a test drive at some point. The goal now seems to be teaching them “time and place” rather than expecting them to never hear a bad word in their lives.