Help Your Teens Stop Swearing -- 3 Tips for Success
With four-letter words flying freely in today's society,
you almost can't blame teens for picking up the swearing
habit. But you know that foul language is degrading
to both the speaker and the listener. You also know
that your teenager swears regularly, he'll seem less
intelligent, less mature, and less respectable than
the teen who doesn't swear.
No sane person will pretend that teaching teenagers
to swear off swearing will be easy, but here are three
ways to encourage your teens to clean up their acts:
* Redefine Cool -- Teens may believe that swearing
raises their "coolness quotient." Your job
is to show them that cool kids have confidence and self-control.
Swearing reveals the opposite: insensitivity, lack of
control, inarticulateness, and even stupidity. And if
there's one thing all teens can agree on, it's that
stupid is never cool.
* Set the right example -- If you also swear, resign
your membership in the four-letter word club. Apologize
to your teens for setting the wrong example, and let
them know you will work hard to use calmer, kinder language,
even when you're mad. Sincere humility from a parent
makes a strong impression on nearly all teens.
* Explain the Link Between Language and Moods -- Foul
language is hostile, and using it actually makes you
feel angrier. Since feeling angry makes you more prone
to swearing again, it's a vicious cycle. So if you want
to be happier, talk cleaner.
Your teens may not suddenly stop swearing, but taking
the time to help them understand how deeply words matter
will help. If you follow these tips, you'll take an
important step in helping your teens grow into adults
who sound more mature, educated and logical, not high-schoolish
and emotional.
Judy Gruen
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