Toddlers immitating parents' swearing?

You never know where kids will pick this kind of stuff up, but when they do, fingers immediately point to the parents (which is perfectly understandable, really). Case in point, one of my girls (age 4 at the time) came out of daycare one day with a note from a teacher saying she had used a curse word in school that day. The look I got from the teacher present was one of absolute condemnation. I asked her what, exactly, she said, and what I heard was something I would NEVER, EVER say to ANY person. We don't watch profane television in front of them, either.

So, where'd it come from? Who knows? More than likely from another 4 year old friend of hers... She just happened to be the one to get caught repeating it.

As for how we handled it, we calmly explained on the ride home that that word, and certain other words, are not nice or ladylike to use. Being that this 4 year old girl, like most, wants more than anything to grow up to be a perfect fairy-tale princess (which obviously requires being both nice and ladylike), that was enough for her. Never happened again.

Hope that helps a bit.

It's a difficult situation because you don't want to simply ignore it but you don't want to give them the attention they want, either.

I think the best thing to do is to tell them calmly not to say the naughty word. If they do it again, put them on the 'naughty step' without saying anything and make them stay on there for a minute per year of their age (two years old = two minutes on the naughty step).

When the time is up, ask them to apologise for saying a naughty word, then hug them and tell them that you love them (therefore showing the child that they can get attention through good behaviour rather than bad behaviour).

If the toddler isn't used to this kind of punishment then it may take a while for both of you to get used to, but once you get the hang of it and the child learns that good behaviour = attention, they'll be a lot less swearing.

Well I try my hardest not to cuss in front of my son, but sometimes it slips, I dropped something the other day and said sh*t, my son was right next to me, and before I knew it he was smiling and saying sh*t... I just said "no honey that's a bad word, don't say that" I probably should have said that mommy shouldn't have said it either, but I figured a 15 month old wouldn't understand, so I left it simple, and he actually hasn't said it since then. It's hard for kids to not be exposed to cussing, I don't know how many times I've been in the store and hear several cuss words, so I'm sure my son heard them too... as long as you handle it then I don't see a problem with it. BUt I know people that make their children cuss too, I just think that sick.

I find it hard to believe that a child could never be exposed to curse words. Do you live in a bubble with no outside people or tv/radio?? We try not to say them, but, do slip up, or watch a movie that contains a word. When my 2 year old says one, we just look at her and say thats not a nice word and mommy (or whoever) shouldn't have said it either. Lets not say it anymore. I don't make it a big deal (then she may say it more often just to get a fun response), just tell her matter of fact and move on. She normally doesn't repeat anymore-until someone slips up again!

I don`t let anyone speak the bad words in front of my kids and I do tell them to please stop if a friend of mine or someone else says it. And obviously I don`t swear and neither does my husband so my child has never ever repeated a naughty word. But if she did I would tell her not to say it because it is a bad word. My child is very well behaved and I`m sure she wouldn`t say it again.

I'd tell my toddler not to say those kinds of things... we are all human and slip up sometimes. If the child says the word over and over again then i'll ignore it...my sister did this once with a nasty word she had heard my parents say... i told her once to not say it and then ignored it when she did say it. She stopped saying it in less than 24 hours.

If he swears you tell him it is not nice to say those words they are bad. Sometimes ignoring it an not getting a reaction to what he says is best. Just set a good example for your child and watch what you say.

No. yet i did no longer swear around my childrens, the two. If it rather is happening basically at school, i'd suspect that there is a few undesirable impression there, rather than at abode. i'd ask greater questions. infants repeat what they pay attention.

I ignore it. The worst thing you can do is to give attention to it whether through laughter, shock, or anger. It doesn't matter how well you watch your language around your children, at some point they are going to hear something you would rather they didn't and children are known for repeating the worst of it.

My kids have sworn. It's hard to stop children from hearing it no matter if it comes out of your mouth or not. I mean it's on T.V., in movies, games, other people in public, friends, family, etc.

I just tell my kids those are words we do not use, and that I do not like them.