Why do preschoolers like potty words????

Question

I have two preschool-age children. At the moment, there is a constant battle in our house to get them to stop saying "poopiehead" "booty" "peepee butt" or any other bodily waste/heinie anatomy words.

WHAT THA HECK????

Is that normal?

BTW, they're two boys, ages 3 and 5.

We have tried the laid back "We don't use this word in our house" thing, we've used timeouts, we've used warnings, threatening to take away trips to the beach are really out of question, seeing as we live in northeast Texas and beaches aren't really something they see much of.

NONE of that has helped.

I have no desire to have children who learn early that dirty language is acceptable. And I am not of the mindset that "I can't do much to stop it, so I should let them express themselves." I care nothing about them being to "express themselves" in that way. They are CHILDREN.

Sidwell:

"edited to add

You are not being consistent in your punishments. Threatening them with no beach trips when you dont even go to the beach? They know they are not missing out on anything so that makes no difference. You need to use real punishments, ones that you CAN enforce. Like no TV after supper, no candy or desert, no riding their bikes, no videos for one night, and if it gets real bad, you need to ground them so they miss out on playing with friends.

When you make a consequence you MUST follow through on it, or they will learn that your "threats" are empty threats and you dont really mean it."


We don't threaten that they can't go to the beach. I was saying that wouldn't work.

We have naughty corners (and they know that naughty corners can be anywhere they are... we've enforced naughty corner at Grandmama's house, at a restaurant, in the grocery store....), time outs, no movies/games, and my youngest gets a slap on the hand (because he responds to NOTHING else).

Answer 1

I have two boys also; ages 2-1/2 and 5. When they use potty talk, I tell then, "If you want to use potty words, you'll need to go into the bathroom, because that's where potty belongs."

Then if they choose, they can say all the potty words they want in the bathroom.

Answer 2

Yes it is normal. Boys of that age seem to get a kick out of them. The more fuss you make, the more they use them, because they LOVE to get a reaction.

My 4 year old son says those words ALL the time. We are trying to teach him that they are bathroom words and can be used at home, but NOT outside the house. He still says them outside the house. I fear we are fighting a losing battle.

edited to add

"...threatening to take away trips to the beach are really out of question, seeing as we live in northeast Texas and beaches aren't really something they see much of."

You are not being consistent in your punishments. Threatening them with no beach trips when you dont even go to the beach? They know they are not missing out on anything so that makes no difference. You need to use real punishments, ones that you CAN enforce. Like no TV after supper, no candy or desert, no riding their bikes, no videos for one night, and if it gets real bad, you need to ground them so they miss out on playing with friends.

When you make a consequence you MUST follow through on it, or they will learn that your "threats" are empty threats and you dont really mean it.

Answer 3

They like to use them because when they do it certainly gets your attention and fast!! Kids are smart. The very quickly figure out how to push our buttons and what will get us to make the loudest response with the funniest faces (think about how you must look when you hear one of those words pop out...eyebrows up, big eyes round mouth) and will use it to the best of thier ability. Preschoolers, especially the 5 yr. old, are looking for ways to show their independence and using words you don't like is certainly a good way to do it. Plus, the idea of a poop for a head is funny at that age (heck, we all know grown men who find jokes about gas hilarious) so for them it is a double decker whollop.

The best thing to do is...ignore it. Do not make an issue out of it. When you hear it, especially when they are doing it on purpose (and you know when that is), simply go do something else. If they follow, simply say that while they may think using that language is funny, you find it distasteful and have moved to another room to leave it. Point out how favorite TV characters never use those words..."You know, Power Rangers never call each other bad names. I think that is really great." It will be tough, but simply say it and leave it.

I have a son who is 10. He is autistic, so language for him happened later than the norm and he was 8 when we faced a similar problem. Only for us it was full blown swearing. We are a military family and while his father and I do our best to keep our house curse free, growing up on military bases has certainly exsposed my kids to colorful words and word combinations. After talking with his teachers, it was agreed that when K used a bad word, we would state how we disliked the word or how it made us feel, would move away if possible and then keep going. When my son realized he wasn't going to get us to stop what we were doing and focus all our attention on him, he gave up on swearing.

Answer 4

why do teens like potty words? They are immature. Let the kids be rewarded for saying good things. A sticker or something, and have the kids get in trouble for saying bad words. try a minute in the corner, for each year they are old. or try not paying any attention to them, all they want is to be noticed.

Answer 5

Yes, they like to say words that you or other adults respond to negatively. They like the attention. They are curious and trying to learn as well. Just say, "we do not use this word" at the time of occurrence and reinforce by using time-outs or taking away special toy(s) or a special trip (like going to the beach, etc.) Say, "we use this word instead when we are frustrated, oh man, etc.)

Answer 6

Mother of 3 boys. I think it is normal and done for a reaction. When they get a little older they seem to better understand what is and isn't appropriate. Just stay firm and continue to tell them that you do not like these words. Good luck!

Answer 7

The less of a big deal it is, the less they'll do it. Part of the fun is to get the adults' attention. Just be cool about it, and the appeal will wear off.

PS- I know little girls who do this too. It's not just a boy-thing...

Answer 8

My boys are 2 and a half and 4 and I have the same problem,I guess it's just a little boy thing.

Answer 9

so what
let them have fun and enjoy themselves
they will be doing that 4 ever just in time they will get more harsh and clever

Answer 10

It's just a contest of "who can say the naughtiest thing?" Of course they don't know of the words shits, penis, ******, asshole, and others or else they would be yelling, "You godamn penis ******!" or "Asshole mouth!" Count your blessings, count your blessings.