How to Get a Toddler to Stop Swearing
Toddlers are beginning to learn to speak, and every sound that enters their precious ears is particularly interesting to them. This means that they repeat a lot, and since they are also interested in discovering their limits, they will tend to repeat those words that particularly make adults gasp. Convincing a toddler to stop swearing involves reaching beyond punishments or explanations, as these are often two concepts with which toddlers struggle. Adults who successfully stop a toddler's swearing patiently follow a few simple methods of ignoring and redirecting.
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Instructions
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Ignore the child when she swears. This is the first defense against the bad word, as any reaction will show the toddler that her actions have an effect. Toddlers love to see what they can do to make things happen, and swearing is just another method of causing something to happen for a little one.
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Listen to yourself when you talk to other adults. Are you using that word? If you are, stop immediately. Sometimes, parents don't know where the child heard the word, but most often, it was heard in the home. Clean up your own language so the toddler will stop repeating undesirable words. Swear words happen, usually accidentally, so a toddler who has picked up a swear word from a parent does not have a bad parent, just one who has made a minor mistake.
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Substitute words with cleaner versions in front of the toddler. Toddlers are imitators, so use kinder words instead of swear words in reaction to events. For example, when you drop something, say, "Oh sugar!" The toddler will begin to repeat "Oh sugar" instead of whatever swear word he has fixated upon. This requires patience as it will not happen immediately. The toddler will continue to use the swear word until he begins to grasp the concept that there is a new word to use.
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Tips & Warnings
Use all steps in combination. Ignore the word and use different words to redirect the language. A child who swears in a certain situation, such as dropping something, can be redirected in this manner. When the child swears in response to dropping something, the parent can drop an object on purpose near the child and then use a clean word to express frustration.
References
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