First Swear-Oh No!

My 2.5 yr old has taken to saying oh sh*t! He heard daddy say it while playing video games, and now if he falls down, he says it. I just tell him its a grown up word. He parrots back "grown up word!" and is usually done with it for the day. I have a feeling he will be over it soon :-)

Next time he uses it say: "we don't use that bad word, we use xxxx instead" and insert whatever you find acceptable. Seemed to work for my kids.

I've got terrible Trash Mouth. It has always embarrassed my kids. They are 14, 17, 19 and do not swear. They roll their eyes and say 'Mom, LANGUAGE!' Go figure!

:)

My just turned two year old said "oh f it" the other day. I asked him to repeat himself, and then I ignored him.

My daughter said the F word a few times too. We ignored her, and she stopped.

I wish I could blame the swearing on hubby, but I love the F word ;-)

I'm not sure this will be of use, but this has worked amazingly in my home.

My dad cusses with liberty so I grew up around cussing. I did not cuss as a child but now I can cuss with the best/worst of them now. For me, it's not the word that's bad. The word is a combination of sounds. The history and context of the word (and when it is used) CAN be problematic/triggering/hurtful/gross, and words take on different meanings and hold cultural weight throughout the word's evolution.

My cussing is largely situational and I can turn it off/on depending on my audience. That said, my children do hear me cuss on occasion and their father as well. Each of them has tried out cursing. I responded really calmly/firmly and said, "That's not a word you get to use yet. It's a grown up word. When you have learned all the other words in the English language (an exaggeration, I know), you will be able to choose to use curse words. Until then, you can not. You need to know when it's okay to use those words because people may feel sad, angry, confused, or scared when they hear them. So you will not use them until you are much older." After being told once or twice (per new word they discovered), they never did again.

Just tell him you made a mistake. Even grown ups do that.
It is an inappropriate word.
That's what I do.
My kids correct me when I do/say things like that. I then apologize.
And even Mommy, will try her best.

Its a phase.
Nothing earth shattering.
Main thing they know, that at school.... it is a big no-no word, especially.

I tend to say "damn it..." and once I said "F**k it..." under my breath, and then my son said it.
Well, I just explained to him... NO that is Mommy's mistake, its a bad word not for him to say. It is really an icky word etc.
They understand.
But yes, its not nice to see and hear our kids say that.
They must know, it is off limits.

And, I just teach my kids to say other words, for it.
Such as: "Oh popcorn.... !", or "Oh, shazbot..." or, whatever they can make up that is funny... not offensive. For frustrations. And they understand.

The first time my daughter said that she was 3 and we were in a restaurant and she just started singing F**ing cats, F***ing cats over and over. Everyone just looked at us. I was mortified obviously, but I was also taken off guard because I rarely swear. I also wanted to laugh out loud at the absurdity of it but of course I couldn't so I looked at her and asked her where she learned that and she smiled real big at me and said "Grandma!". All those people who were looking were now laughing. Funny how people think it's funny when it's not the parents fault, like it's somehow OK. Anyhow I just told her that some words are grown up words and only grown ups can say them. Not that I condone swearing, I actually can't stand it, but there was/is no way I'm going to get my mother to stop, so for me it was the best I could do. She's 15 now and she doesn't swear in front of me nor do her friends, but I don't delude myself to the fact that it's probably happening when I'm not around.

My first inclination would be to ignore it and see if it passes. I would try that for 2-3 days. When he says it, just don't respond.

If it still comes up, ask him "what do you mean?" or "what do you want?" Try to be situational. Some kids repeat 'swear words' in frustration, because they saw us use them when frustrated. One child I took care of said "Oh sh*t" when she was frustrated. I played dumb and asked "I don't understand-- do you need help? You can ask me." We moved right past the swearing and I didn't hear it from her again.

At four, they can differentiate a bit more. Just like coffee and beer are for grownups, those sorts of words are only for grownups too. (Because they do hear this language from other adults sometimes.)

Please be wary of using any punishments like pepper sauce, soap or vinegar in the mouth. My mother did that and you know, I think she could have handled it a lot better. It's not a respectful way to treat another person.

i think every kid is different. my son, the way he works, i got onto him sharply and told him NO WAY was that okay for him to say. i also told him that some words are not nice, but that sometimes GROWNUPS can say them - it doesn't mean it's right, and it DOESN'T mean he can. i had to teach him just like teaching him anything else. doing it, gets you a time out. so he rarely does it. the other day i heard him whisper a word he heard on tv (i think it was "sexual molestation" - talk about YIKES - the stupid news!!) and i stopped him immediately. "HEY- that is one of those words you DO NOT SAY. understand?? that is NOT a nice word - i don't EVER want to hear you say that." (okay technically if he was grown or mostly grown "sexual molestation" wouldn't be an issue, it's not like cussing or vulgar, BUT you know what i'm talking about - NO mom wants to hear their 5 year old say that!!!!)

always remember IT HAPPENS. and we can't shield them forever. you can hear bad language walking through WalMart half the time....*sigh*...

(for the record, like i was saying about every kid being different - he has never used it as a weapon, and i don't think he's ever said the same one more than once. but my kiddo is a pleaser. he's not real "rebellious" at least not so far)

It happens :).

Not good, but mistakes will slip. Your kids will say things you don't want them too at times. Sadly we can't put a filter on their mouths any more than we can ours.

Just let him know there are some words that are adult words and kids should never say them. Adults should not say them either and they are NOT okay, but that sometimes they slip. You said a bad word and you are going to do your best to not say it again :)

He's okay mama. If this is the worst he has to deal with, count your blessings.

oh goodness, i know how you feel -__-
sometimes mistakes happen its hard to hold those things in sometimes, i know. and then if you have teens, you have no idea if they are gonna say something, or their friends will, if my daughters or sons are having a lot of friends over, its always "remember drew, if you hear something you dont think is good to say, dont repeat it" i hate having to do that, but its better to say that then him dropping the f bomb at school, lol . i know i probaly wasnt much help, i had to vent a bit too :)

We always felt that kids can't smoke, drink, vote, drive, or swear. Doesn't mean adults can't. I don't care what my kids hear or from who. They're not allowed to swear. Enforce it like any other rule. Mine get ONE chance to say the bad word with an explanation that it's bad, and a warning not to say it again. The next time there would be a consequence (usually not necessary). It has always worked, and they understand what adults are allowed to say and kids aren't.

they hear it every where, and if you made it to 3 with out him using slipped ones your lucky. I have a trash mouth when it comes to certain things. I let loose. I normally go into my room and shut the door. I let it out and come back. My kids are 4, 2, and 1. They seldom repeat it. My 4 year old never and actually gets to slap my mouth (lightly) if she catches me. The only time it was repeated was my 2 year old telling me: "F**K is a bad word mom so don't say F**k again its bad... DAD MOM SAID F**K!!!" I am like "ENOUGH D" lol. I actually was so upset and embarrassed at the Inter-generational Preschool I slipped on the floor outside the door of the school in the lobby. Fell on my big bottom and It hurt. There were some elderly gentlemen sitting on the couches near by, and they actually guffawed so loud it made me even more angry. Some elderly ladies playing cards all gasped in horror. I said OH SH*TOLA! When I look up, her entire class was in the Tree area reading a book about 10 feet away. So I just went to the coat rack and waited quietly with a red face. I got a hug and a reassurance most of the kids probably didnt hear it. I still felt terrible.

I say/do the same as Ephie D. below.

My husband in not the "curser", it is I. I have learned to turn on/off the usage and mostly I am in off mode. But on occasion the words slip out in front of my kids.

Then when the word is used we discuss there is another word that is an adult word, when you're an adult you can use it. But until then, do not.

Ignore Ignore Ignore. I mean completely ignore. My now 3-year-old did this about 6 months ago. It's the only bad behavior that I have ever successfully ignored, and it's the only bad behavior that went away quite quickly. I even got our 5-year-old to ignore it.

Oh yeah - after constantly getting after my hubby to watch his mouth, I blew it on thanksgiving. I dripped turkey blood all over my leg and slippers thanksgiving morning. Followed by my 3 year old saying to her father "why did mommy say sh*t?"

Mommy had a similar line about it being a bad word that mommy should not have said. So far she hasn't said it again. I'm sure the next time will be at the most inappropriate moment possible. Because that is the way of the world.

Come up with a fun word to use instead. Make up something goofy. My SIL works w/preschoolers, and she saved us by creating a word for my son to use instead of GD-it (which he began using just days before my uncle, the Episcopal priest, had a huge retirement ceremony and party!!). Try using "Fiddlesticks," "Foobash," or some other word that starts with F and sell it to your son as a special word just for the two of you to use. Pretty soon he will forget what the original F-word even was :)

Pickle is the curse word allowed by my now 8 yr old and if you give it a try, it pretty much fits into every scenario. She is the only kid I know that collected enough money in the curse jar from her truck driver mom to probably fly from NJ to CA first class to visit her relatives for the holiday! Curses slip, don't think you are the worst mom in the world, trust me, your son is 3, you have plenty of time to be that! I'm just kidding! My oldest is 14 and she's still okay, we are human, we are bound to make mistakes it's just what we do w/those mistakes that makes the difference! Have a good one and stop being so hard on yourself!