Shocking words are handled best with humor and a light touch. Inform your child that you and all adults know those words, too. This will lessen the excitement of their using them. Sometimes just plain ignoring their use of shocking words will bring an end to the practice. Tall tales and lies can also be problems.
Children use tall tales to find their way into reality.
Let your child know that you know he is playing a pretend game. A wink or a knowing smile can be a signal that he is stretching the truth and help him back to the realm of reality. When a child lies, it may be that she is afraid of something or that our demands on her are too great. Children always want to be sure of the love of their parents and may lie if they fear the loss of that love because of something they have done or not done. Relaxing our demands and assuring the child of our love may help them put aside the urge and need to tell lies.