What should I do when my 3 year old son says swear words?

Question

He says it when he's mad should I put soap in his mouth or what?

Answer 1

I have 4 kids, all grown up now and each one went through their cuss word phase. What I did was first not get angry. Second put a bar of soap and a jar of chili peppers on the table and tell my child if they wanted to eat either one. Of course the answer was no. So i then told them well you will for every cuss word you use you get to pick one or the other to eat. 'your choice, i told them.
Just like its your choice to cuss it will be your choice to eat a punishment.
Only one of my kids went as far as having to choose a punishment and he only did it once. (i guess to see if I really would make him do it)

Answer 2

Let him know that those are bad words and that he should not say them, and when he does say them after you have worned him, then you should punish him. Washing a childs mouth out with soap is child abuse in some states and so I would not try that. Use time outs are take certain priviledges away, or if you beleive in spanking spank him. If he is getting the words from you it can be changed and if he is getting it from Tv I would be careful what I let him watch, but it is hard to know exactly where they get this from. Super nanny also does a chart called the nauty word chart. If you say a nauty word your car moves along a track, or the spider goes up the web a little more that type of thing and when you get to the top or finish line you have said to many words and you have a priviledge docked from you. According to the program it has worked for many children on the program, but being your son is three I don't know, I would tend to think imidiate punishment would be more the answer like take a priviledge right away or time out spanking what ever it is you do.

Answer 3

Just tell him its a bad word and he can't say it anymore, everytime he says it. My daughter just turned 3 yesterday she cussed a lot when she was 2 but now that only time she says a bad word is when she gets hurt then she realizes she said it and that it is bad and says sorry.
He's too young for putting soap in his mouth or any of that if you ask me. It's not like he really knows, oh thats a bad word I will say it to make mom mad. Chances are he got it from someone in the house, make sure hes not around people cussing all of the time.

Answer 4

We had this issue with our little girl, now 3 1/2, who decided that every time she got upset or frustrated she would use the word s---t. Since these words are often said in frustration, and kids pick up on the fact that they get a reaction by saying them, we taught our daughter to substitute the phrase, "Oh, No!". Everytime she said the bad word, we would tell her, "We don't say that word. What do we say instead?" and she would say her 'Oh, No' phrase. It worked so well that when her Dad or I would slip up from time to time, she would pipe up, "What do we say? We say 'Oh, No!' " I also spoke with her preschool teacher and got her on board with the whole process. Don't be afraid to talk to your son's teachers or caregivers; trust me, they have seen and heard it all and they will be grateful for your honesty and willingness to help your son understand that there are some words that are just inappropriate for a little boy to use. Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 5

No you should not put soap in his mouth!!! have you ever tasted soap!! oh my god i did it for a truth or dare and it was so gross, my mouth kept foaming, I was choking, eyes watering... That is harsh. I was being stupid but I defitently cant see a 3yr old going through it. besides where did he hear the words from in the 1st place??? Let him no those words are not nice, and its not ok to say them. Try not to use them around him! or let anyone else.

Answer 6

I have a three year old son and ive never tried the soap but he rarely uses bad words..on the few occasions he has used them its only because he was repeating something he heard. on that note i made sure to let him know that its wrong to say those words and not to say them he actually now tells me mommy those arent nice words..dont say that and i apologize.

Answer 7

I tell my son those are bathroom words and ONLY to be said in the bathroom. Its an outlet and he knows he can say them there as long as he doesnt say them anywhere else. Fortunately he hasnt said them much. When he did, it was only for a reaction. All he gets from me is "thats a bathroom word, are you in the bathroom?" But then he also tells me that the correct words are"oh my gosh and fiddlesticks and sugar".

Answer 8

When my 2 1/2 year old swears, I first try to ignore it. If it continues, I tell him that there are "pretty" words and "ugly " words. I give him examples of pretty words like "love" "mommy". If he STILL continues I take away something of his for the rest of the day. ( I warn him first before I do this).

Answer 9

My mother and i would both like to answer this question, due to the fact that our little 3 year old boy DID the same thing (so obviously, our "game plan" works). My mother firmly tells him that we dont say those words. she says "mommy doesn't say those words, sister doesn't say that word" or whom ever you live with. don't make it obvious that he had said something bad, because he'll say it over and over again just to make you upset. he may see it as amusing. don't talk about swear words when he's not saying them, or else he'll just keep saying them.
We hope our advice works!!
<3, elyse and susan.

Answer 10

Don't make a big deal out of it, as he will use it to get attention. Tell him it is a bad word and not to say it anymore. You can punish him if you think he is purposely saying the words, not just slipping up because he hears it.