Since birth, your little one has been mastering the basics of language. How he’s realizing that certain terms are especially naughty. Even if you don’t use bad words in your house, the lesson is hammered home constantly by older kids at the playground, rowdy young adults seated next to you in a restaurant, even relatively tame TV shows. Two and three year olds hear and repeat everything we say. Your little one is doing more than just imitating big people. Though in using words he has an inkling you find distasteful, he’s also showing a desire to be his own person. Only recently your child realized he’s separate from you. Now he’s expressing his individuality by pushing boundaries including verbal ones. Tart or sharp language is one way to try to exercise his power, along with other delightful behaviors like refusing to take naps or baths. The only thing worse than your child’s inappropriate language at home, is when he uses it in public. Unfortunately, it’s almost inevitable. So here’s what to do when your child started saying bad words in public:
• Don’t shout or wimp out to get your little one to reconsider his words
• Remove him from the immediate setting (if you’re in the restaurant, take him to the lavatory. If you’re at a friend’s house, take him to the hallway.) Tell him, “that’s not acceptable. If it’s happens again we’re going home”
• Be prepared to make good on the threat. Yes, it’s a pain to have your dinner packed to go or to cut a playdate short, but it’s more important to discipline your child. Once he knows you mean business, he’ll be unlikely to test you on future outings.
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Tags: bad words, developing language, social manners, teaching your child right manners
[...] Bad words in public [...]
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm