My son is 2 and he goes to day care. The other day he fell and to express his frustration he said a bad word. Neither me or my husband said that word. I think he learned it from daycare. I address that with the people at day care. The thing is that I don't know how to address it with my son or how to correct him. He's said it two more times after that. Need advice. Thanks
At two, he is young to understand the concept and be disciplined for that. At his age, it's usually recommended that you ignore him and not give him a reaction, if you react, he'll keep saying it. I would suggest if he falls, say "Ow!" and hopefully he'll catch on to saying that.
Good luck
when he falls...I would say something to the effect of Whoops a daisy's....my boys laugh at that one...as for the word itself...how did you react the first time he said it?? did you laugh??(I know when my kids have caught me off guard my intial reaction is laughter in that where'd that come from moment) if you did or whatever reaction you gave him is the reaction he's going for when he says it...the expectation if I do this mom will do that...give him other options, but otherwise do what you can do ignore it..."I don't like that word, I like this one....". I would also refrain from the "bad word" and call it an "adult/grown up word"...as he gets older we moved from the don't say that to ...that's all you can come up with?? afterall, unintelligent people swear, smart people can be much more creative...Goodluck!!
You don't want to give him any reaction (positive or negative), but since he has used it more than once, the next time he says it, just tell him very calmly that we don't use that word in this family.
If you laugh, act shocked or yell, he gets encouragement and will keep doing it (even if you scold him).
Hi Andrea, I have a two-year old son, too. Don'tcha just love 'em??! I have so much fun with him...but he caught on to a bad word a few months back, too. Sadly, I didn't get to blame it on anyone but DH (darling Hubby). Got him to stop after a couple weeks, though (son, not the hubby).
Ignore your son the next time he says the word...if he's insistent that you pay attention to him, then completely misunderstand him (e.g. "Frog? What frog, honey?") He'll try a few more times when it occurs to him, but if you continue with the above (no yelling and especially, no laughing) then the fun will be over before you know it. Good luck!
I wouldnt totally ignore it, but I wouldnt react either. SImply say that isnt polite and please dont say it. Then if he repeats it ignore. Of course being as he picked it up in day care he might enjoy the reaction the other kids make and continue saying it. If it comes to that you have to insist he not say it. One of my babies starting saying the 's' word. I told him he was saying it wrong, the word was shoot. as in oh shoot I forgot something. He believed me, so that trick might work also.
One thing that annoys me is parents telling kids that stupid and shut up are bad words. I agree they are very impolite, but shouldnt be lumped with curses. A great many people and kids say those 2 and it confuses small children when they are told every day words are as bad as swears.
My daughter did the same thing. She was saying the F word. So what we did was when she said it we would say "oh you saw the truck" or "where is the duck". She hasn't said it since we started doing that. We have been really watching what we are saying now. Not sure of the word that your son said but maybe you can change the word every time he says it. Also make sure that you tell him that its not nice to say that. Wish you luck!
He's a little young for "discipline", especially b/c he doesn't know that what he said was a bad word. My suggestion would be to say to him, "that is not a nice word to use and you cannot say it again" (warning). If he says it again, repeat and use a short "time out" (2-3 minutes).
actually, our pediatrician had said don't mention it, ignore it/. i know, i found it strange too but it worked. he said more we talk about it, bigger deal it will become to kids and more they will want to use it
btw, my daughter had dropped the f-word at ped's office when lollipop fell on the floor.
his face said it all of course, but he immediately suggested we say nothing.
it was the first time i had heard her say that word. i never said anything about it and she never mentioned it again.
Just ignore. Do not react at all. He will stop.
I would agree-just remind him that is not a nice word and maybe teach him an appropriate thing to say. Tell him if he uses it again, he will have to sit in a time out. My son is 20 months old and I use time out for some behaviors and it seems to work.
the best advice I can give you as a current parent and former pre-school teacher is to be very passe about it....when you hear him say that word, just say..eehh I don't like that word...and drop it. the more of a fuss that is made, the more he will say it. I had a little girl once (who was also 2 at the time) curse like I don't know...I didn't react and she never said it around me after the first time...another teacher made a big deal about it, put her in time-out-the works...and every time she saw that teacher she would call her an blanking blank.....because of the reaction!!!!
Don't make a big deal when he says it, after he falls. Just focus on the fall and ask if he's's ok...etc.
Later when he's distracted and calm, ask him where he learned that word. Say u don't like it and a better word to show you're angry when u get hurt is....DARN or whatever u choose.its ok to get mad but I like these words better...
He may still use this word since he knows u don't like it and it gives him a power over you. Obvuiously he is tedsting you and likes getting a reaction so act like it doesn't mean anything but shrug it off and give him a choice if funny new words he can use, instill it in the next few times he says the bad word.hope for the best!
Ignore it and he will stop.
