Foul mouth!

I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it, but my DS (7) has developed something of a foul mouth. I have heard him call his sister a b***h and apparently he sometimes puts the 'F' word in front. :o (According to Miss 9) DD1 also tells me he uses the word s**t.

When I have heard him swear, I have pulled him up on it and told him it's not on. I have explained that swearing is unacceptable in a child and that I don't want to hear it again. He now gets sent to his room to think about his behaviour and is not allowed to come out until I say so, which is usually about 10 minutes. He apologises when he comes and seems genuinely regretful of his language. But it doesn't stop him form using the same language again!

DH and I do swear occasionally and I'm sure the kids have heard us. We have previously explained that those words are 'mummy/daddy words' and that they are not very nice words, that we shouldn't use them. We do try not to swear in front of the children, but I will admit that they have been around and heard us swear. We are trying hard not to swear in front of the kids and set a better example.

Any other ideas to stop this foul language?

we have a swear jar.
We also come up with different/ acceptable words to say. Fudge cake is a fav cause it changes the feeling the kids reckon. makes you think of yummy cake :)

Does he get pocket money, perhaps putting it in a swear jar might help. Fire truck is a big favourite here.

I have too boys. "Mouse poop" is the favourite swear word alternative ATM. If it is really serious, it gets upgraded to "rat poop".

The joys of boys!

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised this happened at our house yet.
The only one I say openly is bum, but I know they've heard me mutter at least a couple of the others.
I've told them swear words are used by unimaginative people, but it's only a matter of time. I like the idea of turning it into something else

If you want this to apply to all the family then have a family pow wow. talk about what punishment is to be used and be willing to be pulled up by your children when they hear you swear.

We have a family near us, and I mean not next door, and the words the parents use is disgusting as we can all hear them. I heard the daughter going off the other day and what was coming out of her mouth was shocking. What made it sad was they were telling her not to use those words.

I always remember someone saying to me that "what ears hear mouths will deliver". Something I have learnt over the years to be so true

I was also bought up with swear words are used by unimaginative people, so have hardly ever sworn

Honestly, I'd be concerned about where he is modeling this kind of language from. Swearing is not tolerated in my house. Occasionally DH or I might let slip '$h!t' if we stub our toe or something, but thats it.

Take the shock factor out of it. When as kids if we swore - very rarely, and still is - dad would say oh that's an interesting word, where did you learn that? Or correct us like if I had said s#*t then he would say, you meant to say sugar, right?
Some times kids know it gets a reaction so do the opposite.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies. I like the idea of alternative words, fudge cake could be popular!

Misty, I think he is modeling it from all over! As I said, he has heard DH and I swear, although not often in front of the children. Several of his mates from school have older brothers and I know he has learned a few words from them. And if you listen, I reckon you hear someone swear every time you leave the house!

My concern is not so much that he has heard the words, but that he uses them even after he has been reminded not to!

I think if you and DH are swearing, even if only occasionally, then you aren't going to have any luck stopping him without making it a family commitment.

Monkey see, monkey do, and if he's doing it out of frustration, then it's at a moment where he isn't going to stop and think, it's only something mummy and daddy are allowed to say. If you are all trying to stop together, you'll probably also appreciate just how hard it is for him to break the habit as well.

im trying really hard to curb my swearing. DH doesnt seem to care.... when i do i use a different madeup word in replacement of it. trying to stop nw before it becomes an issue.
when we were little we would get pulled up for everything. even when i used words like 'rats' or 'damn' instead i would still get in trouble because "it's not what you say it's how you say it" so could never win...

Swear jar is working a treat! 50c per swear word - so far it has cost me $2 and DH $2.50! Kids have not had to put anything in. Thanks for the suggestions :)

Glad it's working!
I really need to keep a lid on my potty mouth.

MadB, according to the kids, 'bugger' is a swear word!! Has cost me $1.50! 50c for the 'sh' word... Swear jar has been great for making me pay attention to what comes out of my mouth. :)

My DF has a shocking mouth on him and it worries me what kind of things Shoopy will start saying when she can talk. I am genuinely concerned about ending up with a 3yr old that says c***! I just mentioned this thread to DF and said we should do this for 1 week just to see how bad we are. He said "that will be at least $10 a day. That's only 20 swear words, I can do that in 1 f***ing sentence". He didn't even realise he'd sworn until I pulled him up on it. Pretty sure DF will be putting every cent he earns in there :p

yeah, that's one of my faves. but it is.... I'm trying out "jiminy crickets" at the moment

poor Jiminy =p how hard have you found it to replace a sware word? is that easier than not saying anything at all?


what else do you claim as sware words? would damn be in there? i guess its up to each family as to what is/isnt.
my DH would be putting atleast $10 a day too =(

I say 'fruit loops' a lot as a swear word. My kids think I'm crazy. ;)

I often end up with Fa-aar out

I had a friend who used fire truck when she was driving until her DS kept getting upset cos he could never see them

We call those who do rude things on the road "dills", or "dill pickle". It uses a beginning sound that is easy to go to! Plus, it sounds funny and makes DD1 laugh.

Can I just say too that if you focus on name calling whether swearing or not it will nip that in the bud too.

I think any negative or nasty tone is inappropriate (and from us too as we are the teachers). Not just swearz. Swearz are bad sure but being disrespectful continues even without expletives.

I hope that doesn't come across the wrong way. I just feel so badly for kids that treat each other rudely. I'm not of the opinion time heals, or it doesn't matter because they are little. It's important for us to teach nurturing to each other. And I say this as I've had to remind my two all morning about their tone of voice. Yet all I can hear now is squeals of delight and mad cackles coming from the lounge as they play. And even though my 2 have 4 years apart they are unbelievably close.

yeah. it's just the ingrained habit of exclamation when I hurt myself or something like that. :/