Cussing.

A child cusses because it's something hear on a regular basis. So if you, your husband, mother, friend, or watching a tv show with alot of cussing, guess what your child just picked up those naughty words. You have to stop where the source is coming from. Make a cussing jar, everytime SOMEONE(doesn't matter if it's your neighbor)in your house cusses they have to put 25 cents in the jar. Even your children, if your children don't have the money to put in the jar, make them do a chore such as taking the trash out, cleaning the pet's food dish out, or if they are to young to do that start taking away goodies to make for a payment in jar. When the habit is finally broke take the jar open it up and for all the hard work your children have put into it, take them out for pizza or buy a new game or however you want to spend it.

It depends on what exactly they say and who they say it in front of. They didn't do it when they were toddlers except on one occassion when one took a bad, slow motion fall and on the way down he was hwling, "oh xxxk!". Normally I don't make much of a fuss as it isn't an ongoing issue. I would be far more worried if they were throwing out racial slurs or cruelties.

My daughter is 4 and I've caught her cussing a few times. Usually a verbal reprimand was sufficient to stop her from saying that same word again. It did make me more aware of cussing in the songs that we listen to, the shows that we watch, and the way that my husband and I talk when we are at home or with friends. I definitely go out of my way now to censor what she sees and hears so that I can hopefully prevent her from cussing in the future.

Basically, at whatever age let them know that it will not be tolerated. It works without having to discipline the child severely as a simple reprimand will do. The key is to be consistent and lead by example. I personally found that they usually start experimenting with swearing around age 3. I live in what you would call the southside of town. Swearing in both young and old is rampant unfortunately. I am proud to say that it is certainly one thing that all my children do not do, even though it's all around them. In fact they rightly frown upon their peers who do so. I no longer have to explain that it's just for lazy people who can't express themselves properly and it is not dignified. I also included that they would't like people swearing at them so why do the same to others. My consistent reprimands have paid off. Yes indeed I am proud of this accomplishment, for in this part of town it is a minor miracle.