How do I get my 13 year old son to stop swearing?

Answer 1

You need to attach negative consequences for poor behavior, and you need to make them both consistent and constant (so you can't say, "well, next time this'll happen").

If your son swears, punish him for it; a grounding, loss of priviliges or additional chores can work wonders. But you need to be consistent in dealing with this, as any hesitation or laxness on your part will only send a mixed message to your teen.

The teenage years are ones where we all go from being concerned only about ourselves to realizing that there are others effected by our actions and decisions. However, it's all the more important that a firm hand guides a teenager through to adulthood.

Sit down with your teen, explain your position and why his vocabulary is not acceptable - even if it's just "I dont allow that kind of language in my house", it's a start - and then lay out the consequences for further inappropriate behavior. I suggest having this conversation **before** one of his swearing outbursts, so that he can enter into the "new" reality forewarned. It can make it much easier for a parent if they can point back to a previous discussion and say, "you were warned what would happen...".

Answer 2

Well if you have younger children around then it's a must stop situation. But if there is no one else in the home I think it wouldn't be so bad to hear him swearing in the home instead of getting tattoos or doing drugs. But I would make him understand he can not say them in front of company or outside with adults around. Try taking away his game counsels (xbox, playstation, gameboys, etc.) so that he understands you mean business. But from experience I would suggest you not tell them what you are about to do just do it. Tell him it is not acceptable and if he continues he will have to deal with the repercussions to his decisions ( then when he's not there take his stuff-whatever you choose to take--and hide it) BUTTTTT! if you have a very rebellious teen then you really need to be careful because he may just trade one thing for something worse, that's why I said I would rather take swearing as opposed to smoking,drinking etc. good luck to you, stay strong

Answer 3

First question is how did he learn that this behavior is acceptable and should be tolerated? Second has he always been like this? And if so why wasn't something done sooner? Get him into councelling IMMEDIATELY! He need help. He is going to end up in jail and going down a very bad path. Is there a special school to handle out of the hand kinds in your area? Try a boot camp of some sort, those seem to sometimes work.

Answer 4

That is a question that I bet 90% of parents are asking themselves. He is 13 and trying to act like he is 23, so just let him carry on with his antics and hopefully he will outgrow this fascination. Tell him that he can swear like a trooper when he's out of the house as you can't stop him, but that you'd like him to respect your wishes and not swear in the house. Best of luck to you in this endeavor.

Answer 5

I STOPPED MY son he will never swear again, after asking him to stop i finally had it.....i started swearing at him all the time,and after about two weeks,he sad dad,i get the point,please stop,i did ,so he could hear what it sounds like to hear someone swearing for no reason other than,thinking they are grown-up,and they feel some kind of power with cuss words

Answer 6

I think a couple of people have already hit on it. He's trying to act grown up. This is the hardest stage for everyone involved and how quickly we forget it was our hardest stage too. Swearing is a perfect example of this, it denotes his proclamtion of being an adult and his hostility of being rejected. It's a war cry. All over our more Americanized nations i.e. Britain, Europe, Canada even, we are reaching this age and shouting in the faces of the parents "you cant treat me like this I'm an adult" or " Why should I respect you if you don't respect me". I am not suggesting that we make them equal partners in our households. I am suggesting, however, that we do respect that they are in a whole new era of their lives. No matter how miniature thy may seem, in many cultures these people are dying, starting families owning property, and did for thousands of year at this age ( which quite possibly is genetically correct if we're still holding onto this need for independence during puberty). Decide that we are going to start teaching them more about life, instead of trying harder to shelter them. Give them even more responsbilities. And tell them why. They are apprenticing, just like one hundred, two hundred two thousand years ago (for big city boys). Give him a sense of family responsibility (which is easier started earlier. Helping you by doing your laundry, or making the whole family dinner when ther's no time. And tell him why. Not as an equal, but definately as someone you trust. If you've never felt this, think of the trusted employee. Knowing that you are him is motivating and gives you a sense of self worth. Your son needs that from his family right now.

Answer 7

Have you asked him to stop? Find a punishment for him everytime he swears. Do you and your family swear around him? If so you need to stop. Most likely its peer pressure thats causing him to swear. Next time you hear him say a cuss word punish him...ground him from the computer, his playstation, whatever. Anything thats important to him. Hopefully He'll stop then.

Answer 8

Tough problem. But, it CAN be done. What you need to do is be consistant. He should suffer negative consequences EVERY time you catch him swearing. Grounding, no tv, no games, no snacks, or something. You must link swearing, with negative experiences. When you establish that link, he will stop. Sorry, it's not allowed to remove his tounge, or beat him with a stick- but, as a parent, I can understand the urge. LOL

Answer 9

Take a privilidge away everytime he swears. Be consistant, and he'll eventually stop. Hopefully it's just a phase. Remember you're the parent

Answer 10

Why is your son swearing around you and he's still able to speak? I have never in all my years cursed around my parents and still don't and I'm grown. Pop his little *** in the mouth everytime. That is YOUR child. If he doesn't like it, SO WHAT!?!?!? You parents are too light on your kids and wonder why the world is going to hell in a handbasket. It starts with us as the moms to teach our children respect and decency. So when he starts getting fly at the mouth again, smack them lips and I bet you'll see a change. No one can raise your child but you so enforce some rules lady. That's your house not his and he doesn't pay any bills so authority is on you/