Any ideas on how toget DS1 to clean up a bit

[saltire]

DS2 is 9. He makes more mess now when eating than he ever did as a toddler. Take today for example. He had cornflakes for breakfast - so there was milk and conrflakes all over the chair and table, on the carpet and on his PJs. Whatever he eats he gets it all round his mouth and his chin. Yesterday he had an ice cream and I don't know how he does it but it was everywhere, round his mouth, down his chin all over his cheeks and down his clothes.
It's got to the stage where I end up taking a clean top and wet wipes with us for him when we go out - he's nearly 10, I shouldn't still be doing this, DS2 is 7 and he doesn't make this mess
Any suggestions on how to make him clean up a bit, as I feel I'm never off his back telling him to wipe his face (which he does on his t-shirt sleeve), or to stop spilling food, and I'm starting to get frustrated with him and myself!

my dd has fine motor difficulties so she gets messy

her therapist suggested her eating some meals in front of a mirror and then cleaning her own face using the mirror

gives her much more of an idea what she is doing if she can see it herself

with regard to spills we ask her to clean them up herself even if we have to finish it off for her

we provide bits of kitchen towel for her/ cloths for table when required

hth

Is his cutlery too big?

I know it's a step backwards but he might find it easier to use small spoons and forks - less on the spoon, less to spread around the place.

Also, does he just need to slow down when he's eating? Is he bothered by the mess? Can he help clean the table after he eats, so that he sees the consequences of his eating? I don't mean that as a punishment, he might not twig that his eating habits cause work for you.

How are his fine motor skills otherwise - handwriting/model building etc?

He uses adult size cutlery. Also he does shovel food in as though it's going out of fashion - could this be whats making the mess. He doesn't seem the slightest bit bothered by it. He did come from the end of term disco with choclate all over the bottom of his t-shirt and said his friends at school told him he had choc round his mouth so he had wiped it off!. He also hates getting his face wiped or washed - it's a battle at bathtime!

Well, you could point out that he will need his face wiping less often if he makes the effort to eat nicely. And ban him from wiping himself on his clothes, that's not on, he's old enough to know better.

One trick to help a fast eater slow down is to put your knife and fork down in between mouthfuls - so you aren't loading up your fork while chewing ready to shovel the next lot in. Might help