How do I get my kid to stop saying "oh my God?"

[iamgrace]

This is 100 percent my fault, and I cannot figure out how to fix it. He's almost 3 and uses in context at least once a day. This is not something I want my 3 yr old saying. 

Ive tried giving him other words to say, ignoring... Nothing's working. He's been saying it for a month now. 

[luckyval]

I'm guilty of the same thing. I had to change my own habit and say Oh my gosh/goodness. Occasionally I add the phrase into conversation on purpose to make sure he's picking up on it.

Really, after a couple of months of that, he made the same change.

[copperboom]

My 4 year old started saying that recently. I think she picked it up from MIL. I told her the first time I heard her say it that we don't say that, ever. From then on, she got an immediate time out any time I heard it. No warnings, no discussions. Just "We don't say that. Go to time out." It stopped fairly quickly.

[looseseal]

We told him to say 'on my gosh' instead. I don't know if that's better in your opinion or not, but it worked for us. He lost interest after a week or so. Now, if someone knows how to get him to stop saying poop all the time, I'd be interested.

[lilybug]

I guess start giving him a consequence every time he says it. Time out, along with a lecture about why we don't say that, and reminding him of his other options for exclamations.

We are trying to cut "dummy" out of my 4 y.o.'s vocabulary. He gets a minus on his behavior chart every time he says it.

[iamgrace]

I've started saying oh my gosh/goodness. He knows that that's what he should say, he just prefers saying god. Lol.

[speckledfrog]

I would just repeat after him whatever you want him to say. He says OMG, you say, Oh my goodness. And then, of course, you have to stop saying OMG around him.

[iamgrace]

Probably doesn't help that I laughed hyterically the first few times he said it. Haha.

[camelblossom]

We have a problem with this too. I'm no help but I am going to try some of the suggestions here. I did tell her that saying it sometimes makes people feel bad and now she just says, "Omg. Did that make you feel bad?"

sent from my galaxy s3. suck it, iphone haters.

[eddy]

Jack yelled out "What the HELL" during quiet time at school the other day.

I am no help. I had to stop saying it all together.

[papie]

Anna used to say that around age 3-4.  It didn't bother me until MIL said with a horrified look "I heard her saying :::whisper::: ohmygood.  I wonder where she picked that up".  I started saying "Oh my goodness" a lot and she picked that up instead.  

[iamgrace]

And he knows it bugs me, too. He will say "oh my ::::shifty eyes, smarmy grin:::: God".

[erbear]

Reading along. My 3 year old walks around her Jewish daycare saying "Jesus Christ" in perfect context. This is totally my fault and I do not know how to get her to stop saying it. I've had a tiny bit of success with getting her to say something funny instead ("cheese and crackers!") but not all the time.

[papie]

Jan 21, 2014 9:47:11 GMT -5 iamgrace said:

And he knows it bugs me, too. He will say "oh my ::::shifty eyes, smarmy grin:::: God".

You are screwed.  Never let them know it bothers you! ;-)

[dragonfly08]

My kids can say "gosh" or "goodness" and repeatedly correcting them has worked.

I've also gotten in the habit of using funny sayings like a couple of pps have suggested..."Heavens to Murgatroyd" is a favorite around here, for some reason. I'ts definitely helped cut back on the "Oh My G-d" and "Jesus Christ" type stuff (from me, as well as the kids!).

[lilac05]

I use the phrase "Different language is..." And then fill in whatever I'd prefer him to say. It sounds silly, but it has worked for all of my kids in therapy and now for my own kid. I also use it when he uses an incorrect word or phrase. I picked it up from other SLP friends who had success with it. If you just say something back, sometimes kids think you're just repeating them, or agreeing with them. If you draw more attention to it, they'll often say it more. This seems to cue them that what they're saying is unacceptable, but doesn't draw unneeded attention to it.

[MeMyselfandI]

A friend of mine recently had this problem. Someone told her that when her child says it, they say, ok, what do you need, God's listening since you just called him...hurry, he's busy. Or something along the lines.

[katb]

I know that you said giving him another word doesn't help, could you come up with one that he thinks is funny? We say "sassafrass" or "oh pickles."

Now, freaking, I hate and one of my DD (9) is saying it. I sent her to her room until dinner the other day and haven't heard it since (before that it was a daily occurrence with myself correcting, reminding, yelling, etc). I told them if they say it, they are in their room for at least an hour. I hope it continues to work.

[piper]

Jan 21, 2014 9:41:23 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

I just correct KHC whenever he says it. My problem right now is with "freaking." One of his friends says it all the time, and it drives me insane when KHC says it. He gets sharp reprimands whenever I hear it.

Ugh, this is TEN times worse than oh my god. 

We were able to nip OMG in the bud, he got a time out when he said it. He has replaced it with Oh good gravy - I love his teacher.

[game blouses]

When I was talking too much like a valley girl ("like" after every other word), my mom gave me a roll of quarters. Every time I said "like" in the incorrect context, I had to hand over a quarter. At the end of the week I could keep what was left.

[juliagoulia]

Mine says "Jesus!" Or "What da heck?".

I have tried to just not say "Jesus!" Myself as much and he's doing it less and less. I tried to tell him "Mimi wouldn't like to hear us say Jesus like that" and he said "Mimi don't like Jesus?" Lol. That's when I realized I couldn't reason him through this one.

[mssaint]

I'm usually good about not saying OMG, but using my goodness instead, but I slipped the other day and a shocked 3 year old voice came from the back seat saying "mommy, that's a bad word to say. Stop it." Day card keeps my child civilized.

[my3boyz]

I don't know how to make him stop. I do know that I am a bad influence on my toddler. His 19 mo old self says less than 5 two word phrases, 1 of them being "Goo, Ga". Mommy had to stop saying "Good God" when she is frustrated.

Luckily no one else knows what he is saying at this point.

[jennysmitten]

I am going to be in sooooo much trouble when I have a kid. I'm like Samuel L Jackson's long lost child.

[erbear]

Jan 21, 2014 10:15:18 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Jan 21, 2014 9:54:21 GMT -5 erbear said:

Reading along. My 3 year old walks around her Jewish daycare saying "Jesus Christ" in perfect context. This is totally my fault and I do not know how to get her to stop saying it. I've had a tiny bit of success with getting her to say something funny instead ("cheese and crackers!") but not all the time.

ok I just fell out of my chair laughing. 

funny until it's your kid

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2014 10:14:53 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Tell him to come up with another phrase, entirely; and make a to do of it.
Or, start expostulating like an old Victorian gentleman. "Great Caesar's ghost!!" or "Good Night Louise!!" or "Gadzooks!!"
"T'ain't a fit night out for man nor beast!!" "Good night nurse!!!"
Shit like that. Kids love it, and he'll pick it up. And, its funny as hell when they say it.

My DS ( 2)  saw the freezer full of popsicles at the grocery store yesterday and said " Holy Mackerel" in awe of all the choices. 

So funny. 

He also says our neighbors cars go " in and out like a fiddlers elbow". LOL. 

[Deleted]

Although when I was telling him the story of Christmas I said.

" And the baby in the manger's name was Jesus"

His eyes got all big and said " Oooohhh Jesus "Fing" Christ .....right Mommy"

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLLLLLLLL!!! /dead

[EmilieMadison]

Could be worse. 
Shitbox.

[erbear]

Jan 21, 2014 11:28:10 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Jan 21, 2014 11:25:17 GMT -5 erbear said:

funny until it's your kid

Oh, I know. I'm sorry.

lol lol

yeah...it's still funny. Especially when her sweet old Israeli teacher had to whisper it to me to tell me what she was saying. Yeah...it's funny.

[adhdfashion]

Jan 21, 2014 11:10:59 GMT -5 mssaint said:

I'm usually good about not saying OMG, but using my goodness instead, but I slipped the other day and a shocked 3 year old voice came from the back seat saying "mommy, that's a bad word to say. Stop it." Day card keeps my child civilized.

The Awana teacher taught Mia to say Oh Snap instead of cursing. I love that woman .