How to Deal With a Child Saying Rude Comments

Making off-color comments about someone's weight or intelligence level might never occur to you, but your youngster could be a different story. If your child makes rude comments, it's important to approach the situation firmly to teach the importance of respect and discretion. Don't forget, learning social graces takes time. With encouragement and coaching, your child should become more adept at showing respect for others.

Instructions

    • 1

      Separate yourself personally from the rude comment, whether your child directed it toward you or toward someone else. Resist the urge to take the rudeness personally, because this could make it more difficult to discipline your child effectively, warns social worker James Lehman, with the Empowering Parents website. Instead, take a deep breath, let it out and allow the rudeness to flow past you without affecting you.

    • 2

      Tell your child that you perceive her comment as rude and that it's not acceptable to talk that way to others. Stay calm as you deliver this message, but make it clear you won't accept this behavior.

    • 3

      Teach your child why it's inappropriate to make rude comments, advises parenting educator Diana Boggia, in Stark County, Ohio, writing for CantonRep.com. Tell your child that rude comments often hurt other people's feelings or provoke anger.

    • 4

      Explore what it means to act politely with others so your youngster understands your expectations. You might mention speaking kindly, not calling people names, not interrupting and striving to say encouraging rather than discouraging things.

    • 5

      Tell your child you'll provide one warning for rude comments and then your child will experience a consequence for repeated rude behavior, GrowingHealthyMinds.org recommends. An appropriate consequence might be a short timeout or the loss of a privilege for a short time.

    • 6

      Follow through with expectations and consequences to respond consistently to rude behavior. Consistent expectations help a youngster learn how to stay within your boundaries, because she knows what behavior you want and don't want from her.

    • 7

      Praise any positive interactions you notice from your child, in which he chose not to say a rude comment. Praising desired behavior often reinforces this behavior and makes it likely your child will repeat it, advises psychologist Ray Levy, writing for the Great Schools website.

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