Calling someone stupid?

Question

Do you teach your toddler that it's okay to do this?


I have a son who is almost 3. Anytime someone around us has said this, I've told my son, "that's not very nice to call someone that" (and he wouldn't).
Then again, I noticed on Merry Christmas Charlie Brown they say it several times and other parents say it around their young children.

What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

I do NOT think calling someone stupid is okay at all. Parents shouldn't be teaching that to their kids.

You know, I always loved the Peanuts (Snoopy is my favorite of course), but I never noticed that until recently. I watched the Thanksgiving special a few weeks ago and I did hear them say the word stupid a few times.

All we can do is try our best to let our children know that it isn't nice and hope for the best.

Answer 2

I hate it...I wonder if these people have ever been called stupid? It really hurts and its usually said with such disdain that it becomes hateful. So teaching your son not to do this is a good thing. And I wouldn't be watching Merry Christmas Charlie Brown again with my child.

Answer 3

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown was created a very long time ago when that was ok

they were trying to make a point

Answer 4

Ever listen to spongebob or Mandy and Billy. It will blow your socks off. I have a 7 yr. old and he knows that he is never to call people stupid because it will hurt their feelings. Start at that young age and let him know that there are certain words that are just off limits. If he starts to say it cut him off right then. Let him know what you expect from him and if he says it again he will have this consequence ( time out, something taken away, a slap on the hand , mouth washed out with soap ) whatever works for you.

Answer 5

My daughter has a habbit calling stuff stupid including herself.In her preschool class there was a boy who called her "stupid" and ever since then she will call everything stupid including herself and us.Its has gotten so bad that we made it into the "badword" list and if we hear her say the word "stupid" she will get into trouble as if she was saying a cuss word. If the child will hear that word from TV it will be from another child in school.So there is no way from keeping that word away from the child trust me.(when she first heard of the word stupid from "rugrats" and "sponge bob" she didnt think anything about it until a kid in her class called her stupid and now she thinks that if a kid in her class can say it so can she.I guess that your going to sit down with him and explaine that it isnt nice saying that word and it hurts ppl's feelings when someone says that word and go from there.Good luck hun.I'm still working on my daughter too on saying that word.If you find a way let me know so i can try it....lol

Answer 6

It's worse if you say the "F" word..I've overheard a neighbor who cussed her face out on her teenage son, I felt really sorry for the kid to have a potty mouthed mother. I'd disown her in a second! But for people around you saying that word, I'd just don't hang out with them anymore. I'd just get up and leave. Just be thankful they don't watch that potty mouthed kids on Southpark!! ( I stopped watching that a long time ago! They were getting too perverted)

Answer 7

merry Christmas charlie brown was made in the mid 60's you could say colored now you don't and it's not right to let your kid call someone stupid

Answer 8

Name calling at all is of course wrong, and "stupid" is at the top of the list. Young children understand what stupid means and it could really damage their self esteem if they think they're stupid.
My son is still an infant, but when I have to, I will use empathy tactics to help him understand that name calling is wrong.

Answer 9

stupid, ugly, idiot, jerk...etc and names that are like this are considered bad words in our house, and my children do not say them, when my child is in school and hears the other children say that her response is "oooh, thats sooo mean, I would get in trouble if I said that to someone" of course some kids look ashamed and others are like "so" but she knows the difference between hearing someone say it and if she herself should say it. I think its a shame the way most parents talk in front of their kids these days or the movies they let them hear and watch, and the music....its awful.

Answer 10

Ugh, SpongeBob and the other Nickelodeon cartoons/sitcoms have a lot of name-calling too, but when my eight year old asks about it, I ask him how he would feel if someone called him stupid.

I think if a kid has enough empathy, and you instill in him a sense of good communication (rather than letting him say the easy/funny thing), he'll laugh at the name-callers, but not emulate them...