[jzgrlduff]

If any of you had/have a child/children who swore, what did you do about it?
I'm talking about a 4 year old.

Ignore it, hoping he'll stop when he sees he's not getting any attention?
Reprimand him? Although to me, that's still giving him attention.

What did you do, and did it work?

 

[Garth]

Mouthwash made from soap & water or disinfectant depending on how bad it is.

 

[TangerineFizz]

Mouthwash made from soap & water or disinfectant depending on how bad it is.

Unless you have a child like me, who spent time in the bathroom licking the soap in an attempt to get used to the taste.

True story.

 

[amazongold]

My stepdaughter Jennifer was 5 when she tried imitating her older brother and sister. We explained to her that those were not polite words, they were used by adults who could not think of a more polite word to say, and we did not allow that kind of language. As she never heard her father or me use bad language, it was easier to get the point across. The one time she used a four-letter word after that, she was put in a time-out. She decided cussing wasn't worth having to sit in the corner!

 

[MidwestGirl]

We never had much of a problem with that ...amazing But when they did say a cuss word we would explain that is not something you say.

 

[gailatmsu]

I don't have a problem with it really. I just told them those are adult words, and when they are older, they can say them if they wish.

They're actually really good about telling Jason not to cuss when he does. They also make him put money in their jar when they hear him.

 

[jzgrlduff]

Karina! LOL!

Well I'm talking about Tyler, my oldest sisters's son. When I was there on Saturday he was really good for the first couple of hours. Then he turned into a little terror (waaaaaaaay overtired and excited from all the company at the same time), and started cursing at us. First it was "*******! *******!", then after I left, my other sister told me he started calling out "f*ucker!"!!!! Initially when the first "*******" came out, my jaw dropped and I looked at my sister like "aren't you going to do something about that?". She said to ignore it.

Sidenote : He gets it from her. She's got the worst mouth I've ever heard and will say anything in front of him.

 

[MidwestGirl]

Karina! LOL!

Well I'm talking about Tyler, my oldest sisters's son. When I was there on Saturday he was really good for the first couple of hours. Then he turned into a little terror (waaaaaaaay overtired and excited from all the company at the same time), and started cursing at us. First it was "*******! *******!", then after I left, my other sister told me he started calling out "f*ucker!"!!!! Initially when the first "*******" came out, my jaw dropped and I looked at my sister like "aren't you going to do something about that?". She said to ignore it.

Sidenote : He gets it from her. She's got the worst mouth I've ever heard and will say anything in front of him.

YIKES....yes kids pick up on that kinda thing from parents. Still they will say words if they get a rise out of them too.

 

[Golfgirlrobin]

If he's getting it from mom, then it'll never get stopped. The only thing I would say is that you can step in when he's in your home. Your house, your rules. Kids pick up very quickly on what is acceptable where, you let him know that doesn't fly in your house and he'll get it.

 

[jzgrlduff]

yes kids pick up on that kinda thing from parents.

I know, Shel. This is new to me since we never had this issue with Michael and Jared. We never (OK, rarely) swore in front of them. To this day we don't in front of them and they don't in front of us, and they just turned
23.

 

[Bob Pr.]

What Midwests Girl said.

If mother has the worst mouth, kids will imitate that. If father and mother have the best mouth, kids will imitate that.

 

[dweck]

Yeah, I gotta say the best thing we did to avoid potty-mouth from the kids was... didn't have one ourselves.

 

[Samson]

Never - well hardly ever swore in front of the children !

Can't remember them coming home and swearing either but had I heard it then I would probably have ignored it initially.

My own parents had zero tolerance and wouldn't even hear the word "****"

 

[Melissa]

I don't remember having a problem with Riley. I do remember telling him that there are words that you don't get to say until you're a grown-up and he was always fine with that.

I remember one time Riley was playing with Hot Wheels, crashing them into each other over and over and repeating the same thing over and over. My brother just stares at me like "Aren't you going to do something?!" Riley was saying "DAMAGE! DAMAGE!" That's not what my brother thought he was saying. =)

 

[HersheyK's Dad]

No prude here, but it was not tolerated.
First time each child was told we didn't want to hear it again and it was not a word for them to use.
Second time was what is now called time out, and an apology needed before release.
Third time something important to the child was lost.
Never got to fourth time.

One word was exempt, ****!

Unfortunately, Mom could not keep herself from saying it. It was actually first child's first word.

They are all in their 30s now and we can laugh about it.

 

[jzgrlduff]

LOL Melissa and Ed!

 

[Princess Zoe]

We tell Makenna we don't say that. I tell her she can say oh shoot or oh schucks or darn it. She does pretty well. I am pretty careful with what I say. I have to remind SU about it. Wait till they ride the bus!

 

[BauersMom]

It really depends on the situation and the child. My oldest son was obsessed with swear words. I simply wanted him to let go of the obsession, so we created "Cussing Wednesday". He could cuss as much as he wanted on Wednesday (at home) with no consequences. After the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday, it wasn't fun anymore and the obsession was over. We never allowed name-calling (and still don't), that would not have been tolorated. He simply wanted to say "****" after he knocked over his legos or "****" when he took one. This was pretty short lived, he is now 16 and I never hear him swear.

 

[MidwestGirl]

We tell Makenna we don't say that. I tell her she can say oh shoot or oh schucks or darn it. She does pretty well. I am pretty careful with what I say. I have to remind SU about it. Wait till they ride the bus!

Yeah it's all over then!!!

 

[jzgrlduff]

My oldest son was obsessed with swear words. I simply wanted him to let go of the obsession, so we created "Cussing Wednesday". He could cuss as much as he wanted on Wednesday (at home) with no consequences.

Debi, that is hysterical! How old was he at the time?
So did she spend the entire day chanting "**** f*ck **** hell"?