DS is the smallest at secondary

[libbyamelia]

Ds is in Y7 and super tiny. He's always laughed off the odd joke about his height but I can tell it's starting to get to him. He's desperate for a growth spurt.

I try and be positive and tell him that his time will come and remind him that other people might have things that worry them, but it might be stuff that's less visible.

In all honesty though, I'm worried too. It's affecting his confidence, and I also think suppose he really doesn't ever really grow (which is ridiculous, as I know he will at some point!

He's 12 in two weeks. Neither my husband or I are that tall, so he isn't likely to be huge but I just wish there was something I could do. Some of his friends are so tall now!

Has anyone else got a tiny DS?

My ds started high school in age 8-9 trousers. He had a growth spurt over lockdown when he was in year 9 and finishes school on Thursday at the end of year 11 average height for his year group. Lots of his friends are much taller than him (his best friend by over a foot) but he has never let it bother him....in fact he is going to prom in a pair of platformed 6" heels so that he is one of the tallest for once (in a jokey tongue in cheek way)! Don't let your ds height become a hang up for him it really doesn't matter how tall he is (or isn't) it's more important he is a nice kid that his peers get on with!

Get your son to a climbing wall/bouldering centre. Honestly, the confidence, strength and actual advantages he will have over the bigger kids will show in a matter of months. Lets face it, most school sports is based around the biggest, strongest, fastest kids. Climbings different. It takes thought, strength/weight, calmness and no less physical ability.

There are bouldering centres all over the country, if he sticks at it, in 12mths he will be ripped, athletic and wont give a toss what size he is because he will know he can do what all the others cant.

My son is 13 and year 8 and has slow growth - his thyroid is off which can affect growth so we are having that looked into.

My brother was always the tiniest in his year and his growth spurt didn't really come until 6th form.

He's about 5'9 or 5'10 and solidly built now.

I was the smallest in my year until Yr 11 then started to shoot up. Above average height now.

it used to be anyway, that bone age can be measured.
We didnt go down the growth hormone route, as bone age was far less than actual age. This was good as it meant catch up would happen.
Height is prob below average even now, but 50% have to be below average by definition.

How short is short?

DS2 is starting Y7 in September and is the shortest in his year…he is about 148cm. He is a November birthday though so only a few months younger than your DS.

Im only 4ft 10 and my DH is only 5ft 7, yet DS1 is over 6ft at 17 He was tall in Primary though. His Y7 uniform will probably fit DS2 when he leaves in Y11!!

There is a formula that they use to predict boys height I think it's on the nhs website. It used to be in the red book you get when they are born from the health visitor. Genetics play such a massive part in height so if you and your husband are below average height it is likely ( not definite ) that yours sons height will be below average too. A good indication is the centile they were born on if full term. I've attached a photo of the U.K. height chart so if you look at the height your son is now and assuming he follows the same centile that will indicate a possible height by 18.

How tall is your ds, I don't think you mentioned it?