Physical Growth & Development in Kids
Childhood is generally referred to as a time of growth. From the first tooth to the entry into adolescence, milestones are everywhere. Children are constantly growing and changing. It is important to understand when certain benchmarks occur in a child's life.
Other People Are Reading
-
Early Childhood
-
This period is defined as birth to eight years old. According to a 2003 article in the "Encyclopedia of Education" by Rachel Feiler and Dana Tomonari, as a child nears the age of three, his or her body will even out proportionally, doubling in height and quadrupling in weight. This is a huge shift from the first years of life when the head is roughly one-fourth of total body height. The American Dental Association reports all baby teeth appear by age three, with adult teeth beginning to come in around six or seven years old.
Middle Childhood
-
In the eight- to 12-year-old period, physical changes are generally slow. Children loose their first set of teeth in this stage and begin to gain some permanent teeth. The vast majority will not see any other major growth changes besides a small increase in height and weight.
-
Adolescence
-
The period from age 12 to 18 includes sexual maturation and physical growth spurts. Most girls sexually mature at age 13, boys at 15. Sexual maturity is defined as the release of certain hormones by the pituitary gland: testosterone for males and estrogen for females. Feiler and Tomonari stated children grow 7 to 9 inches taller and gain 40 to 50 pounds. The first two years of growth are usually the most rapid.
Abnormalities
-
Some of the more common abnormalities in child development include an early onset of puberty, and the opposite case, the so-called "late-bloomer." Feiler and Tomonari stated the age for the onset of puberty has been lowering, with some children exhibiting the signs as early as eight or nine. Other children may not mature until well into their teens.
Fun Fact
-
While the middle stage of physical development is slow, emotional and relational skills take flight here in what Feiler and Tomonari call the "integration phase."
-
