School & Teens

11 year old is suddenly the tallest in class and has started slouching

coral_puzzle_5555

My daughter has grown a lot since summer and is now taller than everyone in her class, boys included. She has started slouching, standing at the back in photos and asking to sit in the last row. I don't want to keep saying 'stand straight', because I suspect she hears it as 'you are too tall'. At the same time I don't want to pretend I haven't noticed. A relative remarked on her height at a function last week and she brought it up twice afterwards, so it is clearly on her mind. Has anyone found a way to talk about this that didn't make it worse?

3 comments

  • linen_spoon_7677

    My elder son had a growth spurt at 12 and slouched for most of that year. The 'sit straight' reminders definitely made it worse; he told us later it felt like we were pointing at him. What changed things a little was practical. We raised his desk and chair at home so he wasn't hunching to reach, and we stopped commenting entirely. She sounds very aware of it already, which is hard, but it also means she'll probably talk to you if you leave the door open ❤️

    • plum_camera_1190

      Not sure the desk was what did it, to be fair. My guess is the slouch goes once the friends catch up in height, which at 11 they usually start to. Agree completely on dropping the reminders though.

  • tawny_thread_36

    I was the tallest girl in my class in Mahabubnagar. I also used to bend. That year my amma put me in front for the Bathukamma songs in our colony and I felt proud for once. Small thing but I still remember it. Maybe find some place where being tall is good for her.

  • rose_gecko_2084

    Opposite problem in our house. Our son was the shortest in his class until about 15. What helped him most was a coach who never mentioned height at all and just treated him as one of the team. Adults remarking on it, even kindly, was what bothered him.

    • cobalt_puzzle_9034

      My 14 year old is the short one right now and very conscious of it. Did yours catch up eventually?

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