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9 year old 96th Centile

12 replies

Rectanglelights · 02/03/2024 16:06

9 year old DD has ASC and isn't very active. Due to ASC she likes what she likes and nothing more when it comes to activity. Enjoys tap dancing, swimming but will only swim lengths at school, and dance at lessons, and food. Whatever I give, she will ask for more. Whether its fruit or cake, there always has to be more. She even manages to convince the dinner ladies at school to give her more if there is any.

Diet isn't bad other than breakfast where she only accepts boiled eggs, or pain au chocolate. She's always after a snack too. I will give a kitkat or the like or one packet of crisps a day. School snack is apple, cheese or cold chicken/ham which she often doesn't eat. Dinner healthy as I can make it within her boundaries of very plain. I am 5ft 0 and have a bmi of 22. She clears the same portions as me with an ice cream cone and fruit.

I have noticed that she has started complaining that she might have eaten too much, say if she's been to my parents who like most grandparents cave immediately to demands for more. She's also suggested once or twice that she is fat and makes observations that she is in age 11-12 clothes.

Going for a simple walk is hard work, both in terms of moaning, refusing and if persuaded, seeking out every bit of mud. Does not enjoy the playground and refuses to go outside at school. Is often found wandering inside school at playtime. XH will sometimes take her to junior park run which seems to be OK but he doesn't have her very much as he is normally busy on Sundays.

I know what I need to do which is help her to grow into her weight and I've been trying since she was 3 with varied success. I'd like her to be below 90th Centile before she goes to high school. That's 4kgs or 8 cms to grow without gaining weight.

What activities have your ASC children enjoyed and how have you managed to cut portion sizes without causing upset or lack of nutrition? Also, has anyone managed this successfully and how?

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CadyEastman · 02/03/2024 16:09

What height centile is she on @Rectanglelights? My DN has ASD and is on the 98th for weight but is also on the 97th for height and has plotted those centiles for a long, long time.

The 96th centile for weight isn't a bad thing necessarily.

Rectanglelights · 02/03/2024 16:30

She looks to be over 91st centile for height so its probably not as bad as I think. I am struggling to match her waist size to trouser length by a good few inches though. She has also plotted like this for since weaning too.

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CadyEastman · 02/03/2024 16:38

So her weight and height are pretty much in balance and fairly constant. I don't think eating as much as you in portion sizes is much of a problem.

According to this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust a moderately active 9 yo girl needs 1,790 calories a day, so not that much less than a fully grown woman.

You might want to give her a daily calcium tablet and have a look at tweaking what she eats though, although I know how hard it can be. My DD woukd happily lives off beige food!

Rectanglelights · 02/03/2024 16:47

Yes, I shall look into calcium tablets, multi vitamins and her diet in general starting with breakfast! Two of those pain au choc and yoghurt isn't ideal. She is not very noticably larger than her peers given her height, apart from a tummy. I do worry about her tummy and the lack of movement. She is such a gorgeous, kind and funny little thing and I'd hate to think of her being bullied or struggling with her weight because of things I did.

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CadyEastman · 02/03/2024 17:10

She sounds absolutely adorable. Sine things that DD liked at that age were:

A climbing group. It was a small regular group so she got to know the other kids there. Plus it's a no contact sport which my DC seem to prefer.

Cricket. Have a look to see if any of your local clubs are running Dynamos in the summer. It's an introduction to Cricket and is very much about them having fun in the evening sun.

Skateboarding. Our local indoor centre run a girls night and also SEN sessions.

Could you do Parkrun or C25K with her? I know how hard it can be to get them to do anything they don't want to though...

Rectanglelights · 02/03/2024 18:48

Cricket sounds like loads of fun. I think she'd love that

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CadyEastman · 02/03/2024 18:53

Rectanglelights · 02/03/2024 18:48

Cricket sounds like loads of fun. I think she'd love that

A couple of clubs near to us are running Giris only Dynamos sessions but if she's interested in Cricket she may just be able to go sling to the weekly training sessions at her local club. Most clubs will loan out any kit that they might need.

oldnorsesaga · 03/03/2024 12:25

I would just say girls with more fat tissues get their period earlier - so definitely is time for such talks. I got my period at 9 and I think it's good to be prepared.

CadyEastman · 03/03/2024 14:06

That's a really good point oldnorse.

Rectanglelights · 03/03/2024 16:08

Oh lord. I was about 15 does this have any bearing on delaying it? She's no outward signs but I better get some period pants.

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CadyEastman · 03/03/2024 16:19

I think it can go on when you started yours but I'm not completely sure. Me and DD were both 12.5.

I told DD about it at 9 though as she's one of the youngest on her class and I didn't want her not knowing what was going on if other girls started theirs.

We bought What's Happening to Me? Although a Mighty Girl does have lots of other suggestions here.

We also got the Hey Girls Starter Pack.

Rectanglelights · 16/03/2024 12:45

Quick update on this. Some horrid little boy in her class has been calling her fat and saying that she has a big tummy. This was 2 weeks ago apparently but she only told me today. He has form because we had issues with him saying she is stupid. Do I go loco or wait until parents evening? This has almost certainly come from the mother as I know her and the comments only started after we had all been out for the day where we had lunch.
Poor DD

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