Do You Know How Your Child Grows?

How much do you know about the way children grow? Take this short "test" adapted with permission from the Human Growth Foundation. 1.After age two, most children grow approximately one inch each year. True False     2. Growth rate usually slows down after the first year True False      3. Parents should be concerned if their child is shorter than his or her classmates of the same age. True False     4. Short stature can signal more serious medical problems. True False     5.The number of boys with short stature far exceeds the number of girls. True False    6. Children who eat more and exercise more will grow up to be taller. True False     7. The average girl grows only two to three inches after she begins menstruating. True False     8. Characteristic of personality are genetically controlled. True False              9.  Emotional problems can affect a child's growth True False            10.  Short children often develop emotional and psychological problems. True False            11. Girls can go through puberty as early as age nine and as late as age fifteen True False            12. The first sign of puberty in boys is acne or the appearance of facial hair. True False          13. Most girls have their first period between the ages of 12 and 13. True False             14. The growth spurt that that goes along with adolescence usually begins about age 11 in girls and 13 in boys. True False          15. The average baby grows twice as much in height during the first year compared to the second year. True False   Parents can learn more about the Human Growth Foundation by visiting their web site at www.hgfound.org or calling them at 1-800-451-6434

As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician. Please read our full disclaimer.