Parenthood can be a wild ride. There are moments when time stands still, you blink, and before you know it, your child is growing quickly and well on their way to becoming a teenager. As you navigate times of significant growth, it is helpful to understand developmental norms and tips for helping your child through times of growth and change.
Dr. Simee Malik, a pediatrician at University Hospitals Lake Health Physician Group Willoughby Pediatrics, recently shared her expertise, providing insight into growth spurts, timing, and typical and atypical patterns.
When it comes to the teenage years, what are the developmental norms?
“Typically, girls will enter puberty earlier than boys. How early? For some girls, changes can begin as early as age 8. The first indication that changes are on the horizon are typically the development of breast buds. In fact, girls will generally have their first menstrual cycle within 2.5 years of developing breast buds. After a couple of years of having their period, most girls cease significant physical growth.
Boys generally enter puberty later than girls. Unlike girls’ physical changes that may be more easily noticed, the changes in boys are not as easily recognizable (the initial change that occurs in boys is testicle size). Boys may continue to physically grow through their late teens and even into their early 20s, generally going through two significant periods of growth.
These differences in growth spurts are typically evident in middle school where some girls may tower over boys or be far more developed than boy classmates.”
Do children gain weight before sprouting taller?
“It is true. Children can grow up and out, or out and then up. During puberty and times of significant growth, new fat cells are produced. These fat cells do not go away, though they grow bigger and smaller throughout your life.”
Sometimes kids complain about their legs hurting or “bone pain.” Is that a sign of growing?
“It can definitely be growing pains but the main thing to remember about growing pains is that they are usually not in one spot and not constant. The pain will come and go and it may change locations, sometimes being bilateral and sometimes just being one sided. Pain may also worsen with prolonged activity but increasing fluids and electrolytes may help lessen these symptoms.
Parents should be concerned if pain is in one particular spot and persistent. Growing pains do not usually affect joints, so no hip pain or knee pain. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, please see your pediatrician.”
What is “normal” growth? What should be of concern?
“Normal growth is tracked by yearly check-ups. Starting from birth through the teen years, an annual well child check-up is the best way to document your child’s growth patterns and confirm normal growth.
Additionally, it is the best way to see anything that may require further investigation. Anytime your child’s weight fluctuates significantly — especially with no known habit changes (i.e. increase in activity or food intake) is a time when it is recommended to check in with your pediatrician.
Parents may be concerned about weight gain in their child as they enter into their teen years/enter puberty? What should they know?
“Avoid talking about weight in numbers. Remember, there are many different body types. Focus on healthy habits. Be mindful of and communicate the influences of social media.
In talking with your child about nutrition, choose words focused on eating the best foods to help their body grow.
Work to help your teen find an activity(ies) that provides them a healthy and safe way to be active. Educate and model for your teen about the value of exercise, not only for physical but for mental and emotional health.”
What conversation starters Do you recommend for parents or teens dealing with self-esteem and their physical body’s changes?
“Always focus conversation around what our bodies need to be strong and healthy. It can be easy — and dangerous — for teens to compare their body type to what they are seeing in the media and/or in social media feeds.
Help teens learn the value of nutrition and that as the vehicle to physical well-being. As teens’ lives become busier and busier, sometimes they choose to skip meals, both for convenience and also for purposes to try to lose weight. Neither of those items are good solutions when it comes to health and wellness and support a body’s needs during growth spurts and puberty.
Finally, model what you want for your teen. Be careful about the language you use about your own body image and be thoughtful about your own relationship with food. Your relationship with food matters too.”
