Bad mummy alert - please help me stop my 3.1 year old swearing!

[crokky]

DS is 3.1 and his speech is a bit delayed (say 6 months ish behind). However, it seems that he has no trouble learning swear words.

It was probably me that he heard swearing, I will admit. I have a 3yo and a 1yo and DH works 7 days a week and I have quite a lot on my plate having only moved here a year ago.

Anyway, I don't actually know if it was me or someone else, but he learnt the word "fucking" and it must have been from someone saying "fucking hell". The first time I heard him say it was when I was trying to fix a towel ring to the wall in the downstairs toilet. I dropped the towel ring and the tool I was using accidentally and I said "aarrgh" - I wanted to swear but DS was behind me watching the DIY so I did not actually say anything other than "aarrgh". DS helpfully added "FUCKING"!!! I said, you mean "FALLING" and thought no more of it. Anyway, a few weeks later, I was in the garden, again trying to fix something and it came apart quite suddenly. Again, DS is behind me, again I didn't swear but DS said "FUCKING!" as the thing came apart. Again I said "FALLING" to try and persuade him that was the correct word, but I don't think I succeeded. I am really worried he is going to say it at nursery when something goes wrong and get expelled! What would I say if the staff told me he had said a swear word at nursery?

Please help me, DS really loves the nursery (of a school that I want him to go to!) and I don't want him to get expelled. Bear in mind, any explanation etc needs to be understandable by an average 2.5yo as DS at 3.1 is a bit behind. TIA.

They won't expel him for swearing.

I got told y 3 year old had said about chickens that they shit and poo on eggs. I was mortified. he said about it a few days later and it was as clear as day that he said they sit and poo on them.

Change what you say. Try to train yourself to not swear! alternatively, substitute any random word, umbrella, banana, anything, doesn't matter what it is, because you can't tell him "that's a word we don't use" if you are doing!!

Anyone who works with kids knows that they come out with alsorts! worst thing you can do is make a big deal out of it because if they've a mind to, they can decide to say it over and over just cos they know they shouldn't

DD told me at 18mths "Mum, Barney's pissing me off"

She was watching a Barney dvd that SHE asked for!

She's said a couple more words, which admittedly she's got from me but I tell her "No thats a naughty word" and she agrees.

But when I say anything even "Oh my god" she catches me and says "mum thats a naughty word"...

Best thing to do is don't make a big thing of it, and try not to laugh!

Thanks for responses - I'm glad they wouldn't just expel him straight away for it. He is already spilling all our secrets after just 2 days .

Nursery staff: "Does anyone here sleep in a bed?"

DS "I sleep in mummy's bed" (actually an amazing sentence for DS given his speech is not great)

I have actually not said any swear words recently in front of him and that's why I am not sure where or when he learnt this one.

Claire - your DD sounds a lot more advanced than my DS. I would have been thrilled if he said a sentence like that, regardless of the swear word in it . He still is not yet able to understand "We don't use that word" or anythign like that yet, so I think, I must try not to make a big deal of it. I would have laughed before as I am a bit immature I suppose, but I don't laugh now, I just worry about him getting into trouble or worse, teaching it to another child at nursery!