Big words: playful techniques
For the youngest, you can play the humor card. Instead of swear words, they should say the names of fruits or vegetables. In practice, this gives “grated carrot or rotten turnip”.
Small risk: that toddlers get caught up in the game and say it all the time. Another variant: we replace swear words with noises or invented words such as “frumch, scrogneugneu…”, let your imagination run wild. Otherwise, the most classic, “flute, damn, name of a pipe” are just as effective.
You can also set up “the swear box”. The child will be able to slip in a drawing that he will make when he is tempted to say a bad word. In this drawing, he will express what he feels.
For older children, they can simply write the word or a few lines to explain their anger, their annoyance. Every now and then, consider emptying the box and discussing it with your offspring.
Another possibility for the most rebellious: create a small table if your child regularly says profanity. Divide the table into columns. They represent the days of the week. Then divide three squares each day. They represent the periods of the day: morning, afternoon and evening. At each period when the child does not say bad words, paste a star. Praise him every time he gets one and cheer him on. When the vulgarities have disappeared from his vocabulary and you will no longer use the board, consider complimenting him regularly on his behavior.
Big words: what next?
Normally, the more the child grows, the more the swear words decrease. He enriches his vocabulary and learns to censor it. If the problem persists, pick a time when the child is behaving well and explain to them that you are concerned about their behavior and that you find it unacceptable to use swear words.
Don’t forget to empower big brothers or big sisters. Value them, ask them to pay attention to their vocabulary. They are the elders, the greatest. They must therefore be “a good example” for the youngest (s).
“As a last resort, discuss this problem with your teacher. It can enlighten you on the behavior of your offspring at school ”advises Elise Machut. “This attitude can sometimes be indicative of other problems. Turning to a health professional, such as a child psychiatrist, can be an alternative, if no improvement in language has occurred despite the dialogues ”she concludes.
Don’t panic, these are only extreme cases. Most of the time, swear words give way to pretty words with a little vigilance and perseverance!