How to encourage good posture in lanky teen?

[QuestionableTactics]

Hi all,
Please stop me turning into a hateful nag (probably too late...) by suggesting ways to encourage good posture in my ds16/ 6'1"/2" (can't tell exactly because he's basically crouching!
He's always been a tall skinny kid, and had his growth spurt about 2 years ago which def isn't over yet (taller than me, as tall as dad).
I realize there is a lot of genetics involved here (I'm 6', his dad about 6'2", and we were both skinny kids till we hit 40) and we suffered from bad posture and infuriating mums!
Now I'm turning into my mum and hate myself for it, but the urge to gently poke his shoulders or give tiny reminders to stand straight is stronger.
He's a lovely thoughtful boy and quite sensitive, some issues to deal with which probably affect his self esteem (tendency to stammer when excited, and he's excited a lot) and although he does eat, he is really really skinny.
My heart bleeds when I see how "crumpled" he holds himself, almost resembling a double helix!
He's v sociable, has loads of nice friends (had a girlfriend, too, for a while).
Clever, good at school etc and I'm v proud of him (I divorced his gobshite dad when he was 3 and although he sees him regularly his dad is less than useless in instilling self worth etc).
How do I help without being intrusive (he goes to gym and does a bit of training at home, but resists going to an actual trainer who is successfully whipping me and his stepdad into shape)?
All suggestions v welcome

[ISingSoprano]

i really don't have any answers for you but I have a tall daughter who doesn't stand up straight so I am completely with you on not wanting to nag
Dd started to get some back pain so I got her referred to a physio. I am also trying to encourage dd to do pilates to help her core stability. I doubt that will work with a teenage boy but you are not alone!

[QuestionableTactics]

Thanks Ising,
Perhaps I'm just overthinking this and it's really just a physical weakness that will right itself in time.

[LongTimeLurking]

He sounds a bit shy and a bit uncomfortable with his height, but he will grow into it as he gets older and obviously as his friends catch up a bit and he isn't always the 'tall one' that stands out.

I can't see that drawing any attention to his posture will achieve anything other than making him more self conscious to be honest.

ps: as a tall person there is nothing more annoying than being asked if you play X sport or do Y athletic event 'because you are tall'. God help him if he is black; people will automatically assume he is in training to become an Olympic athlete of some kind.

[QuestionableTactics]

Thanks everybody,
Being v tall myself I truly know how awful it is when people draw attention to my height. Yes, I'd like ds to be proud of himself and luckily I'm always noticing a string of girls who try to catch his eye (and stop myself from overtly nudging him!).
I suppose because I struggled as a teen (woe is me, I'm taller than my peers) I see that in him too. Most of his friends have now stopped growing and he is indeed the tallest. Although I agree at present he's not that tall for a boy. And of course he will meet loads of taller kids at college one day.
He had been teased for being skinny so goes to the gym fairly regularly, and he's v strong.
As he has a black friend he knows all about the incredibly stupid comments people make, I just hope he can be kind to himself when on the receiving end (his friend is an excellent role model, actually, for patient exasperation).
Thanks so much for your replies.

[twentyten]

Hi. My dd had back problems and poor posture- physio recommended sitting on a fit all to do schoolwork/ computer games which has helped massively. Good for core strength too.
Make sure thighs are parallel with the floor. Tkmaxx or Amazon sell them quite cheaply. Dd loves hers!

[SportsMixtureSweets]

He sounds like my son. He is 13 and 6'1 which has resulted in very bad posture as he crouches down to walk with friends. After endless problems because he grew very quickly I took him to a physio who said his posture was a big problem which he needed to work on. He has given him exercises which get done when I remind him. Sadly I do have to prompt him to stand/sit properly or otherwise he still crouches. Its worse when he is sat and I just say 'sit up a bit' in my friendliest non nagging voice

Cycling and walking but no swimming were advised as well.

Every single person he meets makes a comment re his height, does not help he is reed thin as well.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

Rock climbing, indoors at first. Assuming he's still quite light, he'll find that his height will give him a massive advantage. The posture will come naturally from the sport: can't slump when you're stretching for a hold or belaying a partner.

[settingsitting]

Mention it to his gym?
Ultimately it is about teaching him to have good self worth.

[QuestionableTactics]

Thanks everybody for your replies. I will be looking at the physio side of things again, and will put forward the sports suggestions, both rowing and indoor rock climbing are really near to us.
This has been a great help to me mentally, and hopefully will be able to guide ds to achieving more self worth too.
Thanks again

[MRJJ007123445667687876]

ISingSoprana, why did you shell out for the physio? Here was your chance to get her to stand striaght - just tell her that the back pain comes from her crooked back and will go away through standing straight. It's true, by the way, I know because it's the central advice of Alexander technique that got me out of my back pain. No need to spend money!

I always do this with DS - when he has a tummy ache it#s because he does not wash his hands often enough and eats his apples unwashed. Ahh, revenge is sweet!
When he has some other sort of pain its his wicked nature. We laugh about it but it wo-ho-ho-rks!

other then that: sports that require a straight back, for example horse riding, martial arts and ballroom dancing.