Toddler (preschooler) using bad words: how to deal with cursing and swearing
Usually 3-4 y.o. kid's learning and knowing many new words, but you may not want him to repeat some of them, they might heard from you or family member, movie or elder kids.
The first time your child drops a F-word or other worlds, which isn’t a part of normal communication, can be a shock.
Before you boiled up, know that most kids this age have no idea what words like this mean. But if you overreact to a certain word, it can make your child even more intrigued about using it.
As even if they don't know what it means, toddlers understand that they these words are emotionally charged.
What to do and how to react:
1. DO NOT LAUGH
It may seem funny at first to hear such language fall from the lips of your small baby, but laughing over it will only encourages more of the same.
2. DO NOT OVERREACT
Acting shocked or horrified teaches that the word is powerful, emotionally charged, giving your child incentive to repeat it in situations of frustration.
3. IGNORE FIRST ACCIDENTS
It's possible that your child has no idea that he is using an inappropriate word. Paying no attention to the word can help it disappear from his vocabulary.
4. IF WORD IS REPEATED
If your child repeats a forbidden word, stay calm and say, "That's not a nice word, and we don't use it in our house."
5. IF YOU SPELL THAT WORD ACCIDENTALLY
If this situation happened and you spell bad word yourself, say to your child: “Mommy should not have used that word" and carry on as if it didn't happen.
6. SET POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF COMMUNICATION
If you or family members using bad words, expect your child to do the same. Modeling appropriate verbal responses to anger helps your child learn socially acceptable language too.