Bad Language - Naperville,IL

I think the less reactive you are about it the better, for the most part - if he knows saying it will get a big reaction from you, he is probably more likely to keep doing it. But I would not totally ignore it either. My daughter has the type of personality that she may be strong-willed and stubborn at times, but she also wants to please and do the "right thing" - sometimes she has said some things that I don't want her repeating and I let her know very firmly that that was not allowed, and made it very clear that I did not want to hear her say it again because it is not nice. She seemed to realize that she had crossed a line and knowing where that line is, she has not tried to cross it again.

Welcome to the world of little boys . . . they LOVE bad words, at least mine did. :P

I would give consistent consequences that they immediately recognize and understand, and watch my language (as it sounds like you are doing).

Believe me, it does pass. My two sons are teens now and I'm proud that they are not enamored at all of cursing (like some of their friends). They at least have the good sense to not do it in front of ladies or adults, which is more than I can say for some of the teens I see out in public.

Just move on and not say those words again. He will soon forget them. If he continues to get a reaction out of you for them, good or bad, he will continue to say them.

Least said, soonest mended... to an extent. Children this age say not only words that their friends/family say but also words that seem to get an interesting response; for that reason, you don't want to give the interesting response. So just let him know (as I'm sure you have) that it's a trashy word, you won't say it, and he won't either, and go on to better words.

Sometimes you can say, "Do you know what that word means?" It can be funny what he may answer! But when he's older, you may have to discuss what it does mean, and why some people like to use profanity and a bathroom-and-barnyard vocabulary.

(This is the time to think whether, later, you want to teach him that there are some words that should not be said at all by anybody - whether they do or not - *or* that some words people shouldn't say until they are grown up - and then, how old is grown up? Thirty? Twenty-one? Fourteen? Twelve?)

My almost three year old daughter was recently doing this too. At first I didn't want to "punish" her because she had no idea it was a bad word. So I would just sternly tell her that is an adult word and she is not allowed to say it. But she kept saying it, so finally I gave her a timeout for saying it. I think I had to give her two timeouts and I haven't heard her say it since.

Dont make a big deal about it, Just say, "son, thats not a nice word and I dont really want to hear you say it again, thanks",, And then go on to other things. Girls say it too so its not just a boys thing. My grand daughter has said a few things, and its pretty obvious she already knows its not a good word. She knocked a toy off the table a while back and said, "dammit" under her breath, and then slapped her hand over her mouth and said,, "oh no, I said dammit!" She will come to me sometimes and ask if its a good word or not. The other day she came up to me and all inquisitive, and said "Grama, is FREEKIN a bad word?" Its hard not to laugh when its so cute. If you think he will forget it, youre wrong. He will continue to hear words all over. People on the street, in stores, in restaurants, on tv have bad language and you cant tell when it will happen and have no control over it. He needs to be told not to say certain things or he will end up like all those foul mouthed people you hear swearing all over. Just dont laugh, and dont scream and make a big deal out if it.

Tell, him what you said to us that you used naughty words to say how you feel and that is not ok. We use our nice words to say what we feel, and keep modeling for him you doing the same! It will be ok. My kids have been around many that curse and don't because mom and dad don't;) If he does it again give him a time out, but continue to follow through with you not doing it.

L.

My son would say bad language after hearing his aunts and uncles use it. They are young aunts and uncles, and I often have to correct them. However, now that my son is 7, if they do cuss, he looks at me and points to them. He knows better. They will grow out of it. I would tell him that those words aren't nice, and he shouldn't say them, especially at school or at other people's homes. That he could get in a lot of trouble that way and it's best not to use them. If someone slips up, they usually say sorry, and that's that. Sometimes if I get close to slipping , I try to save it and form another word...

The best thing you can do is lead by example, because that is what kids understand deep down. Why should they do what we say if WE don't do what we say? :) Have a basic chat about some words that aren't nice, of course, but not saying them yourself will make more of an impact.

oh I wouldnt worry to much. At 10 if I curse by mistake my daughter gets all made at me saying stop cursing lol. Just tell him its not an appropriate word and do not use it again so he forgets about it.