Toddlers may begin using bad language for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, they will innocently mimic the language they overhear others using without realizing the words they are saying are bad. They may also use bad words in an attempt to get their parent's attention or as an act of rebelliousness.

Here are a few simple ways you can help curb your toddler's use of bad language:

• Clean up your own act - Toddlers learn a great deal from observing others. If your everyday language is peppered with foul language, it will be difficult to convince your toddler that those words are inappropriate to say. Instead of cursing, take a deep breath and count to ten before speaking when you are angry or upset. If you do accidentally curse in front of your toddler, admit to her that you shouldn't have said it and move on.

• Stay Calm - f you overhear your toddler saying a bad word or making a reference to a bodily function, try to remain as calm as possible. Resist the urge to chuckle at her comment or to get angry with her, as this will likely encourage her to repeat the word in order to gain your attention.

• Substitute clean alternatives - If your toddler is just trying out a new word that she has overheard, either by working it into a conversation or into her favorite song, offer her clean alternatives to the bad word. If she is using bad language because she is unable to express herself adequately, teach her more appropriate choices, such as "I'm feeling mad" or "I'm really upset."

• Set Limits - If your toddler has become proficient at using bad language, you will need to set some strict limits about which words are appropriate for her to use. When she uses a bad word, inform her calmly that "You are not allowed to use that word" or "That word isn't nice. Please don't use it."

• Teach her to respect others -It is important that your toddler understands that calling other people bad names or using foul language in public is not only inappropriate, but also hurtful to other people's feelings. Ask her to think about how she would feel if someone called her a bad name the next time you hear her using foul language.

Most children experiment with using foul language at some point during their toddler years. If you serve as a good role model by watching your own language and help her find clean alternatives to swearing, you will hopefully keep her usage of bad words to a minimum.