I am sure that most of us have experienced those moments when a child says something that catches us off-guard - a swear word, a mean phrase, or something that typically is not said by someone their age. Where does language like that come from?
Brain development in children ages birth to 6 years is the fastest rate of brain growth in the human life span. A child’s brain is like a sponge, soaking up everything they see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. Ages 3-6 is also when children like to test boundaries to learn what is and is not acceptable.
Think about the many environments that our children are exposed to: home, school, bus, daycare, after-school activities, extended family, neighbors, friends, etc. Do these other people or settings provide an opportunity for our children to soak up words not meant for them to use? Absolutely!
While we cannot always control what is said in other environments, we can provide appropriate redirection to help our children learn acceptable language. PennState Extension has some helpful tips for how to do just that:
Hang in there, parents! With positive reinforcement for appropriate words and consistent messages regarding inappropriate language, your child is well on their way to learning acceptable language for their age.
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