I Need Help with My Sons Gross Talking

I think this is totally normal (I don't care for it, especially in public) but is very normal for boys this age. My son is 4 and sings gross songs he makes up and talks potty talk too, my neice even chimes along and they just crack each other up, they think they are hysterical! My nephew is 4 and he is the same way, so from my experience it is just something they do, but I can't wait until he grows out of it. I really don't know how to get him to stop but I just tell him that we don't talk about pee and poo unless we need to use the restroom. So then he just 'says' he has to pee and poo so he can say pee and poo, so it is never ending. Good Luck!

Hey H. - my 2 year old sons aren't doing that YET but I did teach for a number of years and before that worked in pre-schools, elementary schools and middle schools as an aide.

I can tell you that I've heard many "gross" made up songs out of the mouths of L. & big boys. Even from the Spanish speaking students I taught. I can tell you that it eventually stops but only because they're on to "bigger and better" :D I won't even tell you what I caught two 3 year olds doing on the playground one day when I was 19.

I suggest what you may already know, don't give it too much attention. Praise him and shower him with attention when he does something "good" or that you like. How about stickers for acceptable behavior? Especially when in public. If it works let me know so I can try it when the time comes. ;}

OH MY GOODNESS - I was worried I was alone. I swear my son (and now my daughter!) do this all the time. it drives me nuts.

Wow! Lots of good advice!! I agree with Debi! I think this is probably normal and something you will have to let go..kind of. You definitely want to push the issue that talking like this in public is not appropriate, however...good luck. My son is 6 and now thinks poop is funnier than ever. I think it is just something boys do (and some girls...lol) and we just have to let them be boys. My son understands now that he can't talk like that in public but when he was 2 he didn't get it. Then it was kind of funny and most people in the grocery stores would just laugh...most parents have been through it and totally understand. Good luck! :)

Maybe if you can't change the behavior, change the location. Tell him he can sing his song, but he'll have to wait til you get back in the car. Next time you're on the way to Target, remind him of the rule as you're getting in the car and let him sing to his heart's content on the drive there. Then remind him that he'll have to either stop singing inside Target, or come up with a song with nicer words. You could even help him come up with a new song. You could sing about things in the isles as you shop.
When you're at home, he can sing his song, but only when he's in his room (or the playroom or where ever you decide).
My daughter has similar L. songs and we tried this with her and it worked. I had to sound like a broken record for a few days, but she eventually got the hint. Now she just neds occasional reminders.
Good luck!

Hi H.,
I am a childcare provider and this is what I do when the inevitable potty mouth surfaces. I tell them that they are welcome to sing or say those kids of words, in the bathroom...if you want to talk about potty things, do it where the potty is. One time of the kids stood in there for 15 minutes saying anything he could think of, but most of the time they dont want to leave the group, so they stop. Hope this helps!

My suggestion is if your son is not actually hurting anyone (ie: singing about a person next to you and making fun of them, etc) then ignore him. Let him sing all he wants. If he's getting your attention, then he will continue to do whatever it is that gives him the attention. We went thru something like this with my nephew and by the end of the second or third day when no one was paying attention to him, he suddenly stopped and started acting in a more positive manner.

Hope this helps.
C.

I'll be watching to see if you get good advice because I have 16 month twin boys and I dread this time is coming for us! I did a good job with my daughter by having a no tolerance rule for vulgarity (no public burping or gas on purpose and she is not allowed to say the "f" word for passing gas LOL)But I know with boys its much different (my friends with sons tell me so anyway). I guess they are hardwired for that kind of stuff. Still I don't think I'll be able to take blatant rudeness like I mentioned above. Thank goodness my husband feels the same way so I don't have to worry about him encouraging that behavior at least. Have a good one!

My 3 year old son did try this same thing about a month ago. I think he got it from someone at his school. My husband and I had a talk with him about appropriate behaviors in public places. We told him that his songs and poopy words were okay at home but not in public places. This was inforced by reminding him before we left for an outing that if poopy talk was used out of the house he would loose his T.V. video game privliages. We had to take his T.V. away only one time, and now he doesn't even have to be reminded, he occasionally will remind us that, "We only say poopy and Pee-pee songs at home."

Ah, the "poopy words" issue. LOL I have two boys, 5 and 9 and I tell you, the L. one loves to say a word and then add "poop" to the end of it. It doesn't help that the 9yo laughs when he says it and sometimes I can't help it either. Most of the time I ignore it. He's just being a L. kid and being gross is definitely a part of that! In public he knows to keep it to himself or save it for the car or home. We have told him that we act nice in public and for the most part, he gets that.
Try and make a deal with your child that if they keep their voice down in public that maybe they can have some extra mommy time at bedtime like an extra story before bed or some extra cuddle time. Doesn't alwasy work, but it's always worth a try!

R.~

Welcome to the wonderful world of boys!
This is so normal!
I focus much more on who they are saying things to- they can sing about poop but they cannot call another person a poo-poo head.
I try and keep a matter of fact attitude, mI'll tell them mom really doesn't like that behavior- if their friends find it funny they can share their potty mouths (talking about it, not cussing!) with their friends.
My 10 year old son has found a cell phone ringer that is supposed to be a fog horn but sounds like someone passing gas- he'll make the phone do that sound and has taught my 2 y/o to respond w/ plugging her nose and going PU! It is funny.
For me it is a battle I ahve decided not to fight. I save that for cussing, lying and talking bad about people!
Good Luck!
Oh! Dr Dobson has written a great book - Raising Boys. It has helped me a lot!

D.