Sometimes kids’ bodies grow faster than their brain is equipped to handle it.  You may have noticed your young teen seems more gangly and uncoordinated lately, especially following a growth spurt.  It can take the brain a little while to catch up to the new bigger, stronger body, and in the meantime, tripping, spilling, and bumping are all too common.

Encourage your child not to give up on physical tasks (like a new sport) too easily, not to throw in the towel because of feeling awkward and uncoordinated.  This is usually a phase kids pass through within a year or two, so the perseverance they show now will reward them soon.

When the milk gets knocked off the dinner table for the eighth night in a row, it can be tough to maintain your sense of humour.  Point out what’s going on without anger or an attempt to humiliate or shame: “Slow down and think about what you’re doing.”  Help them to think through what they’re doing and plan their actions so that they’re more in control of their bodies and their behaviour.

And try not to lose your cool as that third picture gets knocked off the wall by the shoulder of a teen rushing by.  Remember, he’s not doing it on purpose…and it’s ok to gently remind him to put it back up and fix it himself.