On
television, in music and even in conversation, bad language is becoming
more and more prevalent—and it's affecting our children.
Words, speech, and language are
an essential part of a child's upbringing, and children today are immersed
in a culture that doesn't value language, he says.
Don't underestimate the power of
language. Hearing bad words defiles a child's core humanity—it makes
them coarse and vulgar.
What to do if you're a
parent who uses bad language:
• Don't. Never use bad language in front of children—no excuses.
• Don't permit double-standards. Let children know that there is only
one standard for bad language for parents and children in the family
- clean, refined language. It won't work if children aren't allowed
to say bad words but you as the parent are.
• Talk about it. If you
do use bad language, you must immediately call a family meeting. Tell
the children why you used the word, why it is still wrong and why there
is no excuse for using it. Make clear that there is no allowance for
that kind of behavior in the home, even for parents.
• Apologize. Say how sorry you are. It's important to apologize to model
the correct remedy for bad language.
What to do if your children use bad language:
• Stop. Immediately stop what you're doing and go reprimand them. If
you're driving, pull over to the side of the road; if you're on the
phone, get off. Immediate action will show the gravity and enormity
of the offense.
• Enact
consequences. There must be immediate repercussions and some form of punishment
to let the child know you're serious. Spell out exactly what will happen
if they do it again.
• Get an apology. Even after a punishment, you must make the child apologize.
The child should be able to say what they did wrong and ask to be forgiven.
• Follow through. Keep your word about the child's punishment.
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