Positive Ways To React When Your Child Says a Bad Word

There you are, enjoying your family dinner, when out of nowhere your little one speaks a word that left your jaw hitting the floor!

Have you ever come across such a situation? Probably yes! In fact, most parents, at some point or another, confront such an embarrassing moment. But what’s the first thing you do? Do you reach out for the soap and think of washing their mouth out (PS: not a good idea)? Do you scream at your child? Or maybe take a deep breath before taking the next step.

Your child must have heard that ‘fork’ word in a pirate movie or in his school. It’s time to handle such situations patiently while teaching your child the difference between good and bad words.

Read below this article to explore how you can react positively when your child says a bad word.

The Freeze Frame: ‘What Did You Say?’

It’s common to get overwhelmed with the feeling of shock. However, instead of reciprocating this, freeze as if you’re in a dramatic movie. This dramatic pause will give you a minute to think.

Plus, your little one might be so puzzled that he might really forget what he said!

In fact, a study has demonstrated how breaking the tension with a touch of humor helps kids realize the inappropriateness of their words without feeling punished.

Substitution Game

Another approach is to substitute the bad word with a silly and simple word that’s harmless.

If your child speaks such a word, simply ask, ‘Did you mean to say ‘fuzzlewump?’ Such acts help redirect their negative behaviors into a playful activity, which can greatly reduce the tension in the atmosphere while teaching them positive communication skills.

Be The Detective

Whenever your child speaks a bad word, just know it’s your time to become the Sherlock Holmes of your home. Handle the situation calmly by asking where he heard this word from and what the reason was behind using it.

This strategy will ensure you know the back story while making sure your child feels heard. Moreover, your child is likely to respond in a positive way because of your non-judgmental reaction.

Bad Word Jar

Try creating a money jar where every person in the family deposits a little money every time they use a bad word. This is a great way to turn a negative situation into a positive one. You can later use the collected funds to donate to a charity. Overall, the bad word jar encourages responsibility and accountability for one’s behavior. 

Time Traveler Approach

It’s important to make your kid realize it’s not the right time to use such words. Let them know these words have their own time and place, and now it’s not! This will eventually help your child figure out their boundaries, and understand language has its own appropriateness in context.