expert advice MORE How to Stop Swearing Q: My 12-year old son is
swearing a lot and no type of punishment seems to faze him. What
can I do? A: If you do not allow swearing in your home, your son
must know that his language is unacceptable. If you decide to
tackle the problem, you must be very clear in describing to him
what words or expressions you define as swearing. Sometimes a
word that finds its way into common speech on TV and in the
community may not seem like a bad word to kids. Once you define
the terms, set an appropriate punishment -- but one that is not
abusive. Washing your son's mouth out with soap does not help
him learn to control his impulsive, bad language. It is
important to figure out why he is swearing. For many kids, it's
the thrill of taking a risk (a minor one at that). For some,
swearing gives them the attention they want from a parent, even
if it's negative attention. For others, anger brings out their
worst behavior, which can include swearing. Sometimes, the act
of defiance fuels th