Cursing

DD has mastered 2 words "idiot" and recently "F You" none to us but more in a joking laughing manner. DH and I are not big on cursing so to even hear it upsets us. I googled this and this is what I found... Basically we have followed all of the below except for overreacting and ignoring. Basically for me, I am mortified and humiliated if she does it in a public situation so I definitely have made a big deal of it. Pretty much Ive failed at "ignoring the first incident". How can I make this go away at this point? Not even sure where she is getting this? TV? friends? public situations? Any advice on how to make it stop?

-Don't laugh. It may seem funny at first to hear such language fall from the lips of your babe, but letting her know that only encourages more of the same.

-Don't quote your child to another adult for a laugh either, at least not within your child's hearing.

-Don't overreact. Acting shocked or horrified teaches that the word is powerful, thus giving your child incentive to repeat it.

-Ignore the first incident. It's possible that your child has no idea that she's uttered an inappropriate word and may simply be repeating a new word much as she would any other new word.

-Paying no attention to the word can help it disappear from her vocabulary.
Remind your child of the rules. If your child repeats a forbidden word, state firmly, "We don't use that word in our family."

-Set a good example. If you curse or swear, expect your child to do the same. Modeling appropriate verbal responses to anger helps your child learn socially acceptable language, too.

Message edited 11/16/2009 12:18:18 PM.

Re: Cursing

Mads picked up most of the alphabet of bad words thanks to DH and I swearing like sailors when we are frustrated or hurt ourselves.

I found that ignoring works wonders. In the few times she's said things out of the home rather than make a big deal, I would gently say, "We say "Oh darn" to which she'd usually repeat it. I'd also make eye contact with anyone in earshot, shrug and blame it on my husband.

At 2.5, we haven't heard any bad words from her in months. WE have also curbed out own bad behavior and really make an effort to not say anything colorful in fron of the kids anymore.

Re: Cursing

Posted by Porrruss

Mads picked up most of the alphabet of bad words thanks to DH and I swearing like sailors when we are frustrated or hurt ourselves.

I found that ignoring works wonders. In the few times she's said things out of the home rather than make a big deal, I would gently say, "We say "Oh darn" to which she'd usually repeat it. I'd also make eye contact with anyone in earshot, shrug and blame it on my husband.

At 2.5, we haven't heard any bad words from her in months. WE have also curbed out own bad behavior and really make an effort to not say anything colorful in fron of the kids anymore.

Re: Cursing

DD, who is 2, is HUGE on repeating, and recently starting saying sh!t... and funny enought, she would say it when she felt that she was going #2 and would say "oh sh!t oh sh!t.." over and over in this little girl voice. It was all I had to not burst out.

I ignored it, and she eventually stopped saying it. If we do slip and say a curse, and she repeats it, the FIRST time, I immediately redirect her away from the word and she forgets it. Luckily, it has only been a couple of times, but it is major embarrassing in front of other people.