Weighed and measured at school - DD already sensitive about her height

[NotaDisneyMum]

The expected letter came today - I have five days to object to DD being weighed and measured at school as part of the national, year 6, data gathering programme.

DD is sensitive about her height - she is one of the shortest in her class, and it doesn't help that DSS is nearly as tall as her despite being 3 years younger. We've spent a lot of time reassuring her and (as she's a bit of a bookworm) we've done lots of research about children growing and boys vs girls height etc.

Will being measured make things worse for her or should I just go along with it so she's not singled out? DD's Dad received the letter, not me, and he copied it to me expected me to just go along with it - he may well insist that DD participates despite my opinion

[kreechergotstuckupthechimney]

My DD is having this done at some point this month. When I got the letter it had a bit at the bottom about withdrawing them if you don't want it to happen.
Personally, I would let my DD have it done. Mine is quite underweight and pretty sensitive about her bony ribs.
Unless there is a medical reason why she shouldn't have it done, if you withdraw her, it will just draw more attention to it.

[wellwisher]

Everyone's sensitive about something - if you withdraw her from being measured with her class it will reinforce her idea that her height is an issue/something to be ashamed of. Breezy and cheerful is the way to go.

[Theas18]

I would definitely agree with welllwisher- breezy and cheerful. Explain it's to contribute to statistics to show how heights and weights change over time in kids, and how much variation there is in kids of the same age - she probably already thinks that, for instance the tudors were smaller than the UK population now - IIRC that isn't true actually (seen henry VIII armour? he was a big chap!) and chat it through like that.

There will if not a junior , then at senior I'm sure be a height measuring/plotting/graphing exercise in class in the future too- at least mine have.

You could withdraw her but that's more to "point out her difference" , if she's just on the small end of normal then there is no reason too.

I did withdraw my DD as she has an endocrine abnormality so IMHO isn't part of the "normal population" .She was cool with that (and had had her growth checked/tracked for years). But then she's a fairly tough cookie and cool with being a "mutant" as the others call her (I'm a mutant too- we carry a specific genetic mutation LOL - a non serious one bt it make me and her "special"!)

[JoyLeeHockeySticks]

My dd is the tallest in her class and sensitive about it and about twice a year there seems to be an occasion for the teacher to line them all up in height order for some purpose or another . This is in secondary school. I know there are three shorter girls in the class who are also sensitive. I think they all inwardly cringe!

But what can you do?! I make positive comments about her height and encourage her to like herself and come to terms with this as it's something she cannot change.

I think facing up to situations is the best way to go - you can't avoid issues like this in life - it's not like it can be hidden - height is something everyone can see. Coming to terms with your body and liking yourself is the issue and helps you cope with other people's reaction to you. She will survive the experience and hopefully toughen up about it.

[PizzaSlut]

I have an 11yo who is anxious about her lack of height.

I try telling her hse's just a late developer and will catch up in time, I was the same height as my younger sister and quite small through most of my childhood, now sensitive about my height as taller than average at 5'8 and tower over all my friends. You can never win.