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Bad words

  • 1.  Bad words

    Posted 11-16-2022 12:24
    Does anyone have any suggestions on how to address children that use bad words constantly. We have seen an increase of such language for the past few months. Any ideas and or suggestions?

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    AraceliaRodriguez
    Eagle PassTX
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  • 2.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-16-2022 13:45
    It depends on the situation and the age, but in my case (preschool) what has worked for me with children that use "bad words", I just question them about it's meaning, which of course they do not know. 
    Example: 
    Teacher: Do you know what that word means? I don't know what it means and I don't use words that I don't know what they mean.
    Even include TA's and ask them: T, do you know what that means??? TA: Nooo..
    (use facial expressions that make it seem that those words are "uncool")
    Afterwards, if it they are mentioning it again, continue saying: "mm, I don't use those words, I don't know what they mean", giving them less attention on those situations works best most of the time.

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    NereydaLevario
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  • 3.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 11:53
    "Bad Words" are something we encounter almost daily in the world of Early Childhood. It is very important to understand the specific child's world. Not only are children exposed to this unacceptable vocabulary in the home but it is very consistent in their plugin time, which can be TV, U-Tube or just playing on a cell phone. We must not judge. Remember that if it is in the home, the people that the child loves the most are using these words. The child will think "Mommy and Daddy use bad words." Therefore we need to create a special place, the classroom, for that child to love. In this special place we do not talk that way. It is teaching an acceptable social vocabulary which is found in normal everyday life. I know teachers are always looking for  strategies, my favorite for this is a bad word coupon book. One can be found in the book "Kindness Curriculum."   It is a kindness coupon book that I changed into the Kind Word Coupon book. I start with allowing the child to use three "bad" words the first week, always have a conversation with the child about the choice of words when you remove a coupon. This may sound crazy but the child is going to use the bad words  anyway. The second week 2 words and the final 1 word. This has worked for me. It does take a lot of conversation with that child and the rest of the class. You must be VERY encouraging (not Praise, "good job") when the child is trying to select a better choice of words. Remember this is a teachable moment for everyone. Good Luck.

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    TinaGiuliani
    ScrantonPA
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  • 4.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 12:19
    Sometimes NOT giving attention to the bad words makes the problem go away (if it was an attention-seeking intention). Giving positive attention (by noticing verbally) to the child in times when he has been using appropriate words (without mentioning the bad words) encourages the children to continue to use appropriate words. For example, "I noticed you used the word _____.  That is a big word! Isn't it fun learning new words? Your vocabulary is really increasing and you are learning so many new ways to say things!"

    When it is a chronic issue, you might address the child to say something like  "here in our classroom community we use a lot of words, but some words are not okay here in this space because they might make someone uncomfortable. It is important to me that everyone in this classroom is comforatble. So that word is not okay here.  I need your help keeping all of our friends comfortable in this space. Will you help me make everyone here feel safe and comfortable?" Don't judge the word because they may have heard it from a family member and it might be okay for those words to be used at home. 

    Good luck!

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    AndreaDekker
    TUCSONAZ
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  • 5.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 16:31
    Children use bad words to cope with difficult situations because they are powerful. Children gain power when they speak to others using bad words by their reaction and the attention they get.  Therefore, by asking them in a very casual way  " what do you mean, or do you know the meaning of the words, you take the power away.  Because children learn in their environment how to deal with different situations, it is very likely that they are mimicking responses.  Then, by guiding children to appropriate ways to cope with a difficult situations, you also empower them emotionally, which in many cases is the reason behind the use of bad words for them.

    --
    Lilia Jimenez (Ella)
    Education Specialist II
    P:  (805) 985-6108  |  C:  (805) 342-3385  |  F:  (805) 985-6268
    Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo
           Helping People. Changing Lives.

    This transmission is confidential and intended solely for the person or organization to whom it is addressed.  It may contain privileged and confidential information.  If you are not the intended recipient, you should not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it.  If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately by email or call (805) 544-4355.



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  • 6.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-21-2022 09:58
    We always try our best to say we use kind words in pre-K that's not very appropriate things like that 



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  • 7.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 12-14-2022 15:45
    Privately ask the child what they were trying to say when they used that word. Help them find words to use when they are trying to say that. Appropriate vocabulary has been shown to help people learn to understand themselves and control their emotions better as well of have better relationships. It’s worth the time it takes. Sometimes a follow up short little puppet play helps the group deal with this issue without drawing attention to a particular child.

    Sent from my iPhone


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  • 8.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 12:16
    See if you can root who is saying them the most other kids could be minican from that child then speak with child's parents as well as just redirecting children with right words to say. what is the age of the children 



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  • 9.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 12:16
    I would just encourage nice words, or kind words and then tell them what kind of words those are. Guide them on how to express themselves and try to help them understand that some words aren't meant to be said at school. 



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  • 10.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-17-2022 14:09
    Hi my name is Mary and I teach Pre- K and what I do when there are children who use  potty words or display other's behavior class meetings and we talk about good words verses not good words and what is appropriate and not appropriate. In our class meetings we talk about different problems and solutions. We  talk about what if's or what happens when. It's a good way for kids to talk as a whole and express their opinions and ideas on how to solve different problems and scenarios

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    MaryEckert
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  • 11.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-18-2022 21:12
    I would talk to the parents and tell them "your child said this today and it really surprised me. Does he talk like that at home?" I think that will start a conversation with the parents and they can work at it at home. At school/daycare if the child says a bad word, get down to their eye level and say "we don't say that word. It's not a nice word" Then you can let the parents know if its still happening there.

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    JenniferBrune
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  • 12.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-21-2022 14:21
    The best thing to do is always say something positive then the negative then back to positive 



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  • 13.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-21-2022 14:35
    Hello all,

    Here are my suggestions:  I would skip the "I was surprised..." 
    I'd seek to help the family feel less defensive, which is a parent's common response to hearing a report of their child's inappropriate behaviors.
    Factual info is most useful. And then -- ideally--a plan from the family and the teachers to help the child understand the expectations.

    Also trying to ascertain where the child learned the word isn't really productive, again, because it seems to be a way to cast blame.

    In my experience, a clear, positively framed reminder to the the child is effective --
    For example: "In our class we use words to tell how we feel. Name calling isn't kind, so let's work together on how you can tell your friend you are mad at him...." 
    And notice and give high fives when kids use words to describe rather than any name calling.

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    SusanRismiller
    FAIRFAXVA
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  • 14.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-22-2022 11:11
    Agree. Also, if we use the terminology of "bad words", it can then put the child in a hard position of being told their parent's are bad for using bad words if that's where they are hearing it from.

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    MaryHeiberger
    VermillionSD
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  • 15.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-21-2022 12:31

    In our school we just ask the child if they know what that word means and where they heard it? 

    We also are a faith based program and have lots of open communication with our parents, so we partner with the parents to educate and encourage them to address this at home. Typically by partnering with the parents this diminishes the use of bad words in our program. 

    It is a fact that they will hear it ( bad language) in our real world and just helping them learn to choose other words is vital. We model good/positive language in our school family and believe that will promote a positive climate rather than shaming a child for saying something bad, when they don't know what it means, anyway. 



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    JulieYoung
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  • 16.  RE: Bad words

    Posted 11-22-2022 12:42
    I have been working with my class this school year on thinking about how our words and actions make other friends feel. When they use words that I don't like, we talk about how they can make other people feel sad, and I ask them to offer suggestions on kinder ways to speak. I do have one friend whose parents think it's funny when he swears, and I just explain to him that we don't use those words at school, even if he's allowed at home. Thankfully he's been receptive to this and changed how he speaks when he's here.

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    JessicaCrews
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