Toilet humour and 6- and 7-year-old boys.

In My Humble Opinion
1

My 6-year-old son, who is in First Grade, used some inappropriate language at school today. Not really swear words - basically toilet humour. This is an ongoing issue with him at school. He knows better than to talk like that anywhere near me or his Dad.

So, the school principal talks to me about it again today and we discuss consequences, counselling, going over appropriate vs. inappropriate, etc.

But a little while later, a thought comes to me. It’s not an excuse for his behaviour, but it could explain where his head’s at.

The school library has the book, “Walter, The Farting Dog.”

His classroom library has some of the book series, “Captain Underpants.”

Toilet humour is terribly funny to boys of this age! The school understands this, yet stocks these types of books, to encourage reading.

**Do you think the school is sending mixed messages to the kids about the appropriateness of toilet humour? **

I don’t think toilet humour is appropriate in class. I don’t like to hear it. My son knows this. The school doesn’t think it’s appropriate either. My son knows this.

However, I know that young boys will talk to each other about this amongst themselves and I see it as a phase, so it doesn’t bother me too much, unless I hear him or I hear about him talking that way and getting in trouble for it, and I don’t really think it’s that big of a deal. My son does not know this.

The books I mentioned don’t bother me. They’re funny to a young kid. But how can I emphasize when it is and *is not * appropriate to talk like that? And what do you think about the school stocking those books at the same time they’re saying it’s not appropriate to talk like that?

2

I think kids that age can be made to understand when certain things are appropriate and when they are not. I’m okay with the school stocking the books too. Whatever captures the kids’ interest and gets them reading, I’m for it.
But then, I can be very immature about these things…I would tell my child that the next time he got in trouble for toilet humor at school, I would sit on his head and fart.

3

Ditto what Dung Beetle said. My five-year-old currently goes into manic giggles whenever someone says “poop” within earshot, and thinks saying something is “poop” is comic genius.

I’ve never seen any reason to correct him on this – kids are always fascinated with taboo subjects, and a fascination with toilet humor just means he’s developing a sense of humor in general. If there are times or situations where toilet humor isn’t appropriate, then it’s the parents’ responsibility to teach that. It’s no different than teaching kids they can’t run and scream and shout while at church/a restaurant/the movies.

That said, I do find it a bit odd that the entire school (as implied by the OP) has a policy treating toilet talk as “inappropriate behavior,” but stocks those books in the library. It may be one thing if it’s just a teacher opposed to the topic, but that wasn’t the impression I get from the OP.

And I’d be worried if my kid doesn’t progress beyond toilet humor. Childhood development is one thing, but Adam Sandler is another… :wink:

4

My three year old thinks “poop” is hysterical. I don’t know if this means he’ll grow out of it by then, or if he’ll have graduated to hemmorrhoid humor.

His mother and I wait in dread… :slight_smile:

5

POOP!!! Ahhhh-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Winston (35)

No, he won’t grow out of it. Hopefully. :smiley:

6

hehe…not a chance. poop. :smiley:

SJ2 (30) and loves things that rhyme with poo.

7

I’m lacking a cite, but recall Garrison Keillor stating there are two things which children love: Farts and Bears.

8

Then it turns to Farts and Beers right around 18 or so…

9

In response to the OP…(will supress the giggles now…)

No it is not appropriate for young children to speak that way in front of mom, teacher, grocery store clerk…unless you are reading that Walter book. You just let them know that “You do not use that sort of language around mommy.” Insert in church, in class, in front of grandma, etc…Let him know that what happens in school is just as important as what happens at home–especially since the kids know now not to do things in front of you. Set the expectation.

So, is this a real problem? If class is disturbed, yeah. If it’s done on the playground with other kids…nah. I had 12 years of Catholic Schoolin’ and I had the worst potty mouth around. Pee Pants. That always got me.

10

I think a dissertation is in order: The Universality of Scatological Humor in Pre-Adolescent Children.

Poop is funny at that age. And (nearly) anything to get kids to read (I hold the line somewhere below softcore porn). So the problem becomes teaching them when the poop song is appropriate. (You know the poop song right, my four year old made it up, but I suspect its made up by a lot of four year olds.

Poop…Poop…Poooooop…pooppooppooppoop…Poooooop!)

The reason Captain Underpants and Walter the Farting Dog sell is because kids think they are funny. Kids don’t think poop is funny because they’ve been exposed to Captain Underpants.

11

Thanks for your insight, everyone.

You just couldn’t resist the poooop, could ya? :wink:

Anyhow, I’m very consistent about not tolerating toilet humour. The school doesn’t seem to be, as I said, as their words and actions don’t match. My son doesn’t talk like that around me, but he does at school. Should I even bring this up with the school, that they may be sending mixed messages to the kids? Or should I just let it go?

I’ll be having another talk with my son, alright. He knows it’s not appropriate, but he just can’t help himself, it seems…

Oh, and rjung, it’s not an actual, official policy the school has. It’s just a common courtesy kinda thing - speak respectfully. The main issue is that he’s interrupting the class. I suppose he would be in trouble for interrupting the class no matter what he actually said, but he happens to be fixated on toilet humour, so that’s what comes out.

12

I’d let it go. Because even if they take Captain Underpants out of the library (and I hope they wouldn’t - they are the books that got a girlfriends son to bother to learn to read), it isn’t like the school is going to be able to stop the near constant potty humor when they kids talk to one another.

Don’t worry though, hel’ll grow out of it. In ten years it will be sex instead of poop.

13

I think appropriateness in general is a great thing to learn at that age; not just the appropriateness of toilet humor but the appropriateness of, say, proper English, or loud speech, or whatever. I think it could be a very good learning experience to use toilet humor as an example of something that’s not always inappropriate, but is inappropriate at certain times and places.

Also, Walter the Farting Dog is awesome. Every month American Libraries lets me know about some other nutjob Texas school where they’re trying to get rid of Captain Underpants. Surely these people have something better to do with their time?

14

Oh, not to mention - everybody poops. I’ve got a cite. :wink:

15

Tra-la-la

16

hey, Bill H., y’wanna tone down the language a little?