Big reception starters

[missgraciea]

Hi everyone, I’ve posted about this before but I just want a bit of clarity really. Is my child huge? Because I’m very aware that she is tall but I’ve had a couple of OMG she’s so big comments and it’s just getting too much!
She is 4y8 months and is 112cm tall, and 19kg. She is starting reception in September. I actually think she looks quite skinny at times.

can I ask how tall and heavy are your reception starters? I really don’t want he to be like a giant.

Are you sure it's not the 'oh you're so big' comment that people make when they see children? Like grown up rather than actual size?

Are you or her dad particularly tall?

In any case, does it really matter? Someone has to be the tallest and they all even out in the end! Your DD will be one of the oldest starters as well dont forget. Mine isnt even 4 yet but is starting in September, and is about 105 so could easily be 112 in 8 months time.
I think you're overthinking...

Don’t stress one bit… both my DC were 135cm + when staring school, they are now year 1 and 5 the tallest in the class 2-3 clothe sizes bigger than generic aging- not only that you can’t shrink her🤣

I don't know how tall my daughter was when she started reception, but she was the third tallest in her class and was definitely over 1m10. She still towers over two of her best friends (July and August babies), but there are now a couple more giants - all girls - so they don't stand out so much.

She has never mentioned anyone commenting on her height, or anyone else's (apart from the smallest girl and that's mainly because she us also the loudest).

My Daughter is a similar weight and height ( may slightly shorter) staring in reception in September. Everyone always comments on how tall she. I don't worry about it! I've got her age 5-6 uniform . I'm only 5"3 myself and I was tall for my age until I reached about 11 and then didn't grow anymore! 😂Dad is 6" so she may be taller than me!!

DD1 was 4yrs 3 months when she started in reception. Can't remember exactly how tall she was but her first uniform was age 7-8. There were 2 other girls almost as big/tall. After a few years the other classmates started catching up. DD ended up 5ft 8in.

DD was about the same, tallest girl in her class but certainly doesn’t look like a giant.

But realistically her height is her height and there’s nothing you can do to change it whether you want her to be like a giant or not.

What you can do however is ensure she feels good about being tall. If people are making comments about her height in front of her make sure you’re responding in a really positive way ‘yes she’s so lucky isn’t she’ ‘yes it’s great she is so tall’. Make comments about brilliant tall women in sports and the benefits of being tall. Don’t let people’s comments and your worries feed into her thinking that her height is in any way a problem.

My DD has a very tall girl in her class. The girl was a foot over everyone else at nursery and has continued to be so all the way to year 6. At one point I was wondering whether she was just older than all the other children because her parents are average height. But I think she just is very tall. She benefits from it greatly at sports day! One stride and she's won.

http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Girls2-18yearsgrowthchart.pdf

You can see here exactly what centiles shes on here.

My dd is 98th centile for height - she receives good nutrition and is a good eater. I dont think about her height much if at all.
I talk about her being healthy, strong and athletic/ good at running / jumping / climbing.
If people comment i always say i know isnt "she lucky / aren't i lucky. She's such a healthy girl!"

If your dd is 90th centile you can expect her to be taller than 8 other girls with one girl taller.

No 4 yr old is "a giant"
Why is being tall an issue?
Why do you want her to be smaller?

The only tiny downside to being a tall child is that adults think DCs are older and more mature. Obviously they aren’t. However a teacher won’t think this but others could. She might stay tall or others might catch her up because her growth slows a bit. I was tall very early, and throughout most of secondary, but by 18 I wasn’t taller - I stayed at 5’9”. There’s nothing you can do about it but if she’s good at sport it’s an advantage.

DD is 4y 4m and barely 100cm and 14kg. DS didn't reach your DD's height until he was 6.

The 'giants' do stand out, but then again so do the tiny ones. It is what it is. At least your DD won't ever have to be told to sit at the front on photo day for being one of the small ones and will have an advantage in sports.

Honestly try not to worry too much. Everyone has to sit on the line somewhere. DS isn't as tall, but definitely towers over some of the summer born children.

They vary a lot, dd2 was in size 2-3 clothes and the smallest school jumpers were 3-4 and drowned her. Size 3 feet (infant size that is, no black shoes available!)

My daughter was 15kg and 94 cm when she started reception and was swamped by her aged 2-3 uniform, don't get me started on trying to find a size 6 black school shoe! One of her good friends is over a year older than her, both August borns but his entry was deferred. He is 15+ cm taller than her it doesn't make a difference.

I have had to make comments to the teacher about my daughters height just twice in the year. Once when she got upset that someone called her tiny and a second time when I noticed that in the photos she was sat behind the two tallest kids in the class on the carpet

Out of the class of 30 my daughter isn't the sole small child and the boy isn't the sole tall child. I'd say there were 4-5 quite small children and 4-5 quite tall children and then the rest fill in the middle.

112cm is tall for a reception starter, but there will be other tall children too. My dd was one of the smaller girls when she started, 100cm and 14kg.

I just measured DS for the uniform order and he’s 110cm so only just shorter than your DD but at his nursery he doesn’t stand out at all and there are quite a few boys and even a couple of girls taller than him. So I doubt 112cm will particularly stand out. Even if it does then really the only downside is usually that they can be mistaken for much older kids and then their behaviour judged when they act normally for their age but that’s not going to happen at school because the teachers know exactly how old they are.

Please always remind your daughter of how loved she is and that she is beautiful for who she is and shouldn't change herself to suit other people. Ignore people who may have motives for making inappropriate unsolicited remarks. Our child had just turned 4 when starting school so it would not be a fair comparison. She's now yr2 H:123cm, eats like a trooper but an average build perhaps because of sport. Being tall is advantageous if your daughter likes sport - you'll see on sport's day. That aside, if you don't ask others you meet for comments, they have no right to offer unsolicited remarks like that and if they do, feel free to make them realise they were wrong to comment. (e.g., you could just say 'And what's your point?' . I've had people comment on my appearance (Work clothes and hair were appropriate) that to others probably sounded complimentary but I have a physical deformity (this person was aware). I did not ask for their opinion and felt embarrased (sounds silly) and it was someone with whom I'd recently had an uncomfortable fiery debate so I can't help feeling their comment was to make themselves look nice and not heart-felt. Faking a smile and offering compliments to make the commenter look better seems to be popular nowadays but I long for people to be genuine again even in the form of opposing opinion.

@DifferentView As a tall child I was aware I could not change my height! You have to embrace it!