Why are some children taller than others in their class?

[Fiona2011231]

As you may notice in your own area, some children are (much) taller than others in their class.

Usually, is it because of their genes or is there something that we can learn from so that we can help our own children grow taller?

For example, some say drinking milk helps children taller.

Thanks,

I wonder if it is the heat and wide open spaces in Texas?

I think they probably build up a healthy height from inhaling gunsmoke from an early age.

I think it's genetics, you can't make a child tall by giving them milk and broccoli.

It's not always that parents are tall/short so their kids will be as both parents carry other genes. My parents aren't particularly tall -mum is 5'6" and dad was 5'8"- but me and brother are above average at 5'10" and 6'4" with wider family a mix of average and tall. My DD is 3 now and a head taller than most kids in her preschool- as a late summer baby too.

I don't think there's any particular advantage to being tall though?

I think the OP should go back and ask their teacher/read their GCSE biology text books, rather than posting on here.

In the vast majority of cases, it’s just genetics.

Also I believe it's polygenetic, their isn't a single "height gene" you inherit but multiple genes that give your potential maximum height.

I reckon I must have got my parents shortest ones as I'm shorter than DM

If malnutrition or serious illness isn’t present, then it’s pretty much down to genetics. Some kids develop quicker than others: I was the tallest in my class at age 12 but stopped right there and now I am a titchy adult. Early puberty.

I think height is one of those things were epigenetics has a big role.

So, if your gran was starving while pregnant with your mother then you are likely to be smaller because of the assumed scarcity in the environment. But as I write that it doesn't seem plausible - hold on, I'll Google.

^^ok, I'm wrong.

Epigenetics, would only explain the mother in that scenario being short. Not the grandchild.

My son is almost a full year older than some of the kids in his class and he’s not the tallest but average. My 13 year old was always really small in primary not the shortest but petite, he’s now taller than me and really filled out, so I’m not paying much attention to the other 2 height in primary.

Although health/sleep does make a difference. My youngest was unwell for a while whilst we were getting his asthma and skin under control. He wasn’t sleeping due to coughing and caught loads of colds which in turn affected his asthma. So appetite was poor. He was very small and his weight wasn’t great. But once he changed to new medications that turned around really quickly he’s now grown and filled out nicely so much so he’s taller than his best friend just a little bit but am glad he’s well again but I did have to fight to change his meds

Average size of Dutch women has increased by around 8cm sinceWW2. This cannot be explained by genetics. Many believe it is a result of a high dairy diet - and the growth hormones fed to cattle being passed to humans via the food chain.

My dc are really tall and drink loads of milk. But they were big and long babies when they were born, so I think it's more genetics (as well as a healthy balanced diet too) as my DH and most of our family are all tall.

Besides, looking at the same school year, you've got to remember that some children are born in September and some in August, so age really plays a part too.

To williteverend99 : The example of Netherlands is very interesting. That is why in the beginning I mentioned milk and asked whether drinking milk will help you grow taller.

For those asking why does it matter, there is quite a lot of evidence out there to show that taller people tend to get paid more than shorties for the same job. They tend to be considered as more assertive and capable etc, more likely to get selected for jobs. Height conveys advantages in life. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.

5’2” here.

Nutrition (protein mainly, I think) in childhood is reportedly the main cause of entire populations growing taller, IIRC.

The rest is genetics. I know families (including my own) where boys in particular are either short or tall.

Epigenetics, would only explain the mother in that scenario being short. Not the grandchild.

Actually, I think I've seen some research claiming an effect even as far as the grandmother, although I think it was for weight.

Quick PubMed: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X16300727?via%3Dihub
An effect on mental health.

There's still a lot to learn about epigenetics.

@Finfintytint

In my area schools put the children into a pot of compost for half an hour every day.

😂

Unless you are malnourished or ill it's genetics.DD is and always has been tiny,off the bottom of the growth charts as a toddler.She is healthy,she eats,she is just small - in growth clinic they look at parental height and there is a calculation that gives the expected range of a child's height from that.We also have some very small adults in the next generation up both male and female.
She doesn't drink milk () but DS was a human calf - he's small too....

Many believe it is a result of a high dairy diet - and the growth hormones fed to cattle being passed to humans via the food chain.

Urgh, I'd rather my children be small than this be the reason they are tall 😧

My son is the tallest in his class. Until the age of 4 he had eaten approximately one pea’s worth of vegetables and he barely ate at all during his second year. He did guzzle milk. But I personally put his height down to having tall parents!

Finfintytint hahahahahahaha. I just spat my tea out.

OP, if what you were getting at in your OP was the possibility of there being growth hormones in milk, why did you phrase your question as how to ‘help our children grow’?

There are a lot of factors in a taller population. For examples both milk and food in general being more available in Europe since WW2. (One of my great uncles had bendy legs from scurvy...)

"Average size of Dutch women has increased by around 8cm sinceWW2. This cannot be explained by genetics. Many believe it is a result of a high dairy diet - and the growth hormones fed to cattle being passed to humans via the food chain."

Interesting - but why would this only apply in the Netherlands? Or maybe it doesn't?

Some schools have a wrack, you have to pay for it and they stay for a session after school twice a week.

Boys tend to shoot up in teenage years. Dh was the smallest in his class when he started school. He grew steady and shot up at around 14 and is now 6ft 2. His mum was about 5ft 7 and dad was 5ft 6. Mind ypu his grandad at 80 yrs old is 6ft. Thinks it's genes. I'm 5ft, dm is a tiny 4ft 10 and my dad is 5ft 11! My son is one of the taller one in his class. Fascinating stuff genetics