Dealing with inappropriate language in your childcare setting

8 steps in tackling inappropriate language

Inappropriate language can be a sore subject within Early Years, with many different views on the best way to tackle it. This can lead to a lack of continuity with behaviour management strategies, leaving children confused.

Young children take in their surroundings and will often imitate actions or words that they have heard from familiar adults. Although this is a great way for children to learn social behaviour and develop skills; it can also lead to children imitating unwanted negative behaviour. It is important that Early Years practitioners work with parents to avoid or remove any inappropriate language from a child’s vocabulary.

Here are 8 steps to take in dealing with inappropriate language

1.  The first step to take in tackling unwanted behaviour is to create a shared strategy. It is important that all adults are working towards the same goal and using the same approaches when a child uses inappropriate behaviour. This may mean ignoring the language or taking the child away to a quiet area to explain not to use those words.
2. It is important to keep calm if you hear a child say something inappropriate. Getting upset or angry will escalate the situation and shows children that it will cause a reaction.
3. Once you hear the child use inappropriate language, it is important to act straight away. Depending on the child’s age or understanding, you may decide to approach the child about the language. If this is the chosen strategy, it is important to explain to the child that the language is unacceptable and it may upset people to hear it again.
4. Finding the cause for inappropriate behaviour or language is crucial in correctly dealing with the situation. It may be that the child has heard an adult use the language and is simply copying the word in or out of context. This can help practitioners in approaching the child about the language.
5. Praise can be a great way to support children to behave in a particular way. Praising the good behaviour will encourage children to repeat the behaviour, removing the unwanted behaviour or language.
6. Giving the child an alternative way to express themselves may help them to stop using inappropriate language. Emotion books and puppets can help a child to understand their feelings and talk to someone about how they feel.
7.  It is a good idea to use this opportunity to remind other children about appropriate behaviour and the importance of having rules to keep everyone safe and happy. The children can help to create the rules that they think are important, with some help from a practitioner. This enables the children to feel in control and more likely to appreciate the rules.
8. If the inappropriate language continues, it is a good idea to set out a list of consequences. This may help the child to stop using the language if it has become a habit. It is important that the consequences are followed through to ensure the child fully understands the severity of their actions.