What are effective ways to stop my kids from cussing?

Question

Every now and then my school-aged children use foul language. I've tried traditional punishments (time outs, washing mouths out with soap, etc.) to no avail. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I think the kid Jackie has it right. replacements for bad words are the best. Oh shite = Oh Snap! Oh Fokk= Oh Duck! Its easy and fun.

Most of the parents writing in are child abusers and if you think mine is a ridiculous suggestion, just re-read some of those.

Cheers and stop poisoning your children. Make them read some Hemmingway or some ducking F. Scott Fitzgerald. TV is for herd animals.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, they learn what they hear. If you're swearing or other people are swearing around them a lot, they're going to. So I'd suggest that, you cut out the influences.
Other than that, I'd suggest never putting soap in their mouth again, it won't stop it, actually it may encourage it. Since your children are school-age, they're most likely able to understand reason. So sit down and talk to them, tell them why you don't approve of such language. Talking to your children gets you more reaction then punishing them physically. It'll also create a connectional bound, so that they'll be willing to come to you for any problem that they have in the future. If that don't work, I'd try talking to someone qualified in these matters like a child expert or psychologist. Good luck.

Answer 3

The first thing is, don't let them hear you or other adults using foul language. They learn what they live and they do what they see. That incudes TV shows and movies. Take that out of their lives. No way should a school-aged child be listening to, or even over-hearing that kind of language on TV. When they slip up and say a bad word, just look at them like they are crazy. Those words will not fit into your environment if you clean up the environment. They will eventually get past that habit, but only if you keep the home free of bad language. They will still hear it outside the home, but it won't be part of them, and they will not be as likely to repeat it.

Answer 4

1. Don't cuss around the children. I see many parents turning the air blue when speaking to their children, then being shocked when the kids use the same language.
2. Let them know what words are acceptable and what words are not to be used.
3. Explain that cussing doesn't make you any smarter or tougher, but in fact is a cover for fear and inadequate vocabulary.
4. First offense...wash their mouth with soap (the cheap, bad tasting stuff.
5. Second offense...warm their backside after you explain why you are doing it.

Answer 5

Talk to them at length every time they do it and explain why it is not appropriate language. Do so until they say they understand. Never ever cuss in front of them because they will follow your actions rather than your words. This may not stop them completely (at least once they hit junior high), but will teach appropriateness (they may still cuss with their friends and feel rebellious doing so, but won't with their teachers).

Teaching them not to swear because people will think they are unmannered works better than teaching them not to swear because you will put soap in their mouth. The soap and the time out don't contain a "why not."

Answer 6

Penalty/Reward System. When they use foul language you take away or disallow something they want or have, i.e. treat, toy, tv, use of computer, video game/xbox,playstation. When they co-operate and do not cuss you reward them, depending on age. Either give back what they had taken or use the gold star sticker system. For each day no cussing they get 3 stars and then after six stars, they get a reward.

Not sure whether this will work. Depends on you and the kids.

Answer 7

the world they live in promotes a self-centered, materialistic attitude that involves using the brain as little as possible for fear of being labelled a 'nerd', so using cuss words makes them fit in and show that they really don't have a brain (although they obviously do, it's just not cool to use it). when they watch movies full of cuss words and hang out with kids at school that cuss, it can have an effect on them. more importantly, if the adults in their lives, like parents, friends of parents, neighbors and other relatives use cusswords regularly, it tells them that it is ok to talk like that. limit that type of exposure, set a good example yourself, and keep up your efforts to let them know how you feel about cussing, and you may start to see some results.

Answer 8

Your children are hearing foul language from the children at school . sorry, but they will always hear it from school.and from other parents that they visit if they do. using soap will not do much and other punishments will not either. If you are not cussing around your children or anyone else you know then that may help them to understand they don't need to cuss if you don't.

Answer 9

how about a swear jar? do the kids get allownce? if they cuss make them pay a quarter or dollar etc etc "up to you to decide" once they see all there money leaving they will break out of the cussing habbit. as for the money made, keep track as to who put what in., the one with the least amount in gets the jar. that will make them work extra hard at changing there language.

Answer 10

How about ignoring them when they cuss.
After they say a bad word, don't say anything to them and walk away.
Then when they come to you for something ignore them again. They will soon become upset and ask you what is going on. At that point look at them and say" I don't associate with people who cuss like you." and walk away again.
It will upset them enough for them to promise not to do it again.
If they do do it again repeat the same thing over and make them wait long each time for what ever it is they want.
The cussing will soon stop.
Don't give them whatever they are asking for until they are sorry for their language.

I did this to my kids years ago and it worked really well.