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When Kids Use Profane Words

By Staff

When kids utter words for the first time in life, it is proud moment for all the parents to listen to them. But what if your kid learned more dirty words than other words? This is a common problem for many parents that kids often learn bad language and use it so innocently in the family and even outside the home. When kids speak bad words all the fingers, generally, will be pointed to the parents as responsible for the bad training and indisciplined manners of kids. There are certain reasons behind the ill speaking habit of your kids. With proper training and care the habit of using bad words could be wiped away from them.

It is a fact that elders, in every society, knowingly and unknowingly use a lot of abusive words to which kids are exposed every day. Childhood is a period of learning and observation. When someone using a bad word a kid learns that the particular word has the effect of crating a shock in the listener. To grab attention or defuse the anger he/she uses the word learned without knowing the meaning or context. The fact is that it is fairly common for children between the age of two-and-a-half and five to use swear words. In the course of the development of their language skills, children have a tendency to repeat what they hear. If you've cursed somebody over the phone when your child was in earshot, you shouldn't be surprised if you hear your child repeating the same choice words in the near future.

Most of the time innocent kids may be using abusive words to grab attention from others. More often than not, they have no idea what they're talking about or the contexts in which they use the words. They know that these 'naughty words' have shock value and that's good enough. It's the thrill of the forbidden, which every adult can identify with. But if a child between the age of six and ten uses profane words, it is a deliberate attempt to be mean and hurtful. Because a child above the age of six is old enough to know the meanings of most of the profane words. Bad words speak of a bad home culture. Although these words do not necessarily indicate the family upbringing of a child, it is quite possible that abrupt use of such words might wrongly imply bad breeding.

Any person expresses oneself through a language. Therefore, good language is the best gift you can give to your child. See to it that he speaks a language that appeals to everyone around him. Your child might antagonize the peer group at the outset. Future generations will be highly dependent on their interaction skills for furtherance of their professional activities. Effective inter-personal communication will naturally lead to a higher success rate. Therefore, if you want your child to be successful communicator, it is advisable to check the words he uses now. What if he spoils his track record only due to bad words used against his juniors. He might use such words as a medium to vent his anger and frustration.

There are certain precautionary measures you can adapt to make your kids speak good and pleasing language. First of all be careful about the language you use in front of your child. If at all your child uses abusive words tell and convince them that such language is not acceptable. Never laugh and take it lightly when your kids use such language for they may see it as an encouragement. It always advisable to discuss what language is considered and what is not. In the case of the older child, make an effort to find out what is bothering him and when you do help him to find other ways of releasing his pent-up emotions. While it is very hard to stay calm when your child is using profanity, try to convey your hurt and anger to him/her in a calm manner. Encourage positive behaviour and praise him for restricting the use of bad language if he shows improvement. Find out whom he is picking up this language from and restrict his/her socializing with such companions.

Story first published: Friday, January 2, 2009, 18:07 [IST]