2.5 yr swearing

Active Poster Joined: Nov 05 2006 Posts: 58

My 2.5 yr old is saying the f**k word. She had to of picked it up from the TV.
We tried ignoring it, tried potching. Now she says is for the attention, she knows she will get a potch (smack) and asks for it.
Any other way to teach her to not say it.

Posted: Sun, Jan 06 2008, 9:14 pm Post subject: re: 2.5 yr swearing

First of all...that's a good reason not to have a tv (sorry, but you yourself made the connection)
A patch will only draw attention to it. Some kids are willing withstand a patch for the attention.

My son at that age started saying dam* it because he heard a friend drop something and say that (only once!) and he just took to it like a magnet.

He went around saying dam* it! Dam* it!

I explained that we don't say that, but if he kept doing it, I'd say "oh, you mean..." another word, and if he kept on, I just ignored it. He eventually stopped, but if he saw it upset me, he would continue.

Yes, I was worried what people would think if they heard him, but the best way to stop it is not to get nervous.

Wink

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 27 2005 Posts: 6798

I would have said just tell the kid we dont say that word, its not nice, or even add we say "_____"(pick a similar sounding replacement) so the kid will forget about it shortly, not to make a big deal. But now that youve gone the attention getting route.....hmmm.....I guess you can still try that and not putting on the tv during prime time if toddlers are around.

Posted: Sun, Jan 06 2008, 9:23 pm Post subject: re: 2.5 yr swearing

I think now that she's already gone the attention getting route, maybe she'll have to give positive reinforcement for speaking nicely the whole day ( a treat)...
Red Sea, you're right...just ignoring it should have been the first step, but now maybe another tactic is needed.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 27 2005 Posts: 6798

I agree mimivan, I think you need to lose the potching routine, go for the verbal positive reinforcment (good girl! look how _____ knows how to talk so nicely!) if she corrects herself to a nice word.