I do not find them enjoyable as television, movie, or cartoon characters and certainly do not want a smart mouth to become part of our son's character. Not only will I not listen to a smart mouth, I will not be in the presence of one. Rather than become engaged in any kind of banter with a smart mouth, I clearly state that I will not be talked to in that manner, that when he is ready to speak to me in the way he knows is appropriate I will be glad to listen and he knows where to find me. I find it much easier to remain calm and respectful if I remove myself from the situation. Providing good role models, and avoiding poor ones, for speaking respectfully is essential in addressing this issue.
Respect begets respect.
Remember that children are not as sophisticated in their ability to compartmentalize their lives as adults. What goes on at home affects their performance at school and vice versa. Kids do best when their lives are stable, dependable, and largely predictable. The tone you set during these early school years will have implications for the rest of their educational career. This is a critical period if our goal is for them to become lifelong learners.