Inside Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s Rule on Kids’ Swearing
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The facts matter. Here’s what we know so far.
Dax Shepard confirmed on the July 28 episode of his Armchair Expert podcast that he and Kristen Bell permit their daughters, Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10, to use profanity at home when it “is called for.” He explained that private settings like their household kitchen or living room allow the girls to experiment with language ownership without fear of public reprimand.
Shepard, 50, argued this approach helps children understand language as a set of “noises that come out of your mouth” to which individuals assign meaning. He stressed that the rule does not equate to unlimited cursing but to context-driven usage. According to Shepard, the pact involves clear boundaries: no swearing in public venues such as restaurants, and no mindless repetition of expletives.
This candid policy sparked a lively counterpoint from fellow podcast guest Seth Meyers, who revealed that he and his wife, Alexi Ashe, enforce zero tolerance for swearing with their sons, Ashe, 9, Axel, 7, and daughter Adelaide, 3. Meyers expressed concern that even a single utterance at home could echo on the school playground. He also noted a gender dynamic, indicating he trusts his daughter to heed a warning not to use certain words at school but doubts his sons would show the same restraint.
Kristen Bell has echoed Shepard’s stance in past interviews. During a 2020 appearance on Strahan, Sara & Keke, Bell quipped that the couple typically “don’t react” when the girls let a curse word slip at home. She added that she and Shepard are “not very good at editing ourselves,” admitting that parental slip-ups are part of the family dynamic.
Their relaxed language rule sits alongside an unconventional love story. Shepard first met Bell at a 2007 birthday dinner and quickly dubbed her “this sparkly creature.” They reconnected two weeks later at a hockey game and embarked on a romance that caught fire in the Italian city where they filmed When In Rome in 2009. Engaged later that year, the pair opted for a Beverly Hills courthouse wedding in 2013, honoring privacy over pageantry.
Lincoln arrived in March 2013 and Delta in December 2014, prompting Bell to guard the girls’ privacy fiercely. In interviews with Good Housekeeping, she has praised therapy and candid conversation as pillars of their marriage. Bell’s Instagram debut in 2016 featured a close-up kiss with Shepard, underscoring their knack for sharing sweet glimpses of domestic life without oversharing intimate details.
Whether you agree with their parenting rule or not, Bell and Shepard continue to spark conversation about modern family norms. Expect more updates as they refine their approach to raising two sharp-tongued daughters in today’s media spotlight.
Even Hollywood households have unique ground rules. Stay tuned for more insights into celebrity parenting choices.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Armchair Expert Podcast, Good Housekeeping, Strahan Sara & Keke
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
