How much do primary school students grow in height and weight each year? Will attending tutoring classes affect children's growth?

Author: Liu Li, Chief Physician, National Children's Medical Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Ma Mingsheng, deputy chief physician, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Most primary school students are between the ages of 6 and before puberty, and their growth and development rate is relatively constant.

Generally speaking, height growth is 5-7 cm per year, with boys growing more than girls. Boys should grow at least 5 cm per year, and girls should grow at least 4 cm. If a girl only grows 4 cm or a boy only grows 5 cm, this is the normal minimum.

Weight gain is relatively constant, usually 2 kg per year. If the child grows taller, for example, reaching 7 cm, the weight can also increase to about 2.5 kg.

1. My child is in elementary school and is shorter than other children of the same age. Does this mean he has growth retardation?

If a child grows slowly and always sits in the first row, it may be growth retardation. But it also needs to be combined with genetic factors, because 70% of height comes from genetics, so we also need to look at the height of the parents. If the parents are short, the child's genetic condition is like this, but the growth rate is too low, which is also a problem. If the parents are not short, but the child is relatively short, it means that there is a problem with the growth rate, and you should see a doctor in time to find out the problem.

It is very important to monitor height growth. Every time parents bring their children to see a doctor for short height, in addition to measuring the child's current height, they should also ask them about their child's growth rate, that is, when did they find that their child grew slower? What is the growth rate in the past one or two years? Many parents cannot answer accurately, which makes it difficult for doctors to determine when the child's growth and development problems occurred. Therefore, parents must do a good job of daily monitoring.

The younger the child, the more frequently they need to be monitored, perhaps every few months, and older children should be monitored at least every six months. Make a mark on the wall to see how much the child has grown.

Figure 1 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

Of course, there is a certain error between rulers. It is possible that the measurement at school today is 1.5 meters, and the measurement at the hospital may be 1.51 meters. The difference of 1 centimeter is the error. However, if the growth rate is monitored, such as how much growth in half a year, the difference is very small.

Therefore, you should still monitor the situation and go to the hospital to see a doctor in time if you find any problems.

2. Will it affect the growth of primary school students if they attend various tutoring classes?

Yes, there will be some impact. Because the factors that affect height are as follows:

First, genetics, which we cannot interfere with;

Second, nutrition. Nutrition not only includes what and how much the child eats, but also depends on how well the child digests and absorbs the food. No matter which aspect has problems, it will affect growth.

Then there are exercise, sleep, and mood. If a child attends too many tutoring classes, his exercise time and sleep time may be reduced accordingly, and his mood will also be affected.

Mood and stress are related. Academic pressure is very high, and children are in a state of tension and anxiety. If the state of tension and anxiety persists, it will affect the neuroendocrine function and the secretion of hormones. Thyroid hormones, growth hormones, growth factors, etc. are closely related to children's height growth. The human body is a very complex and sophisticated machine. Not only these hormones, but also many other neurotransmitters, nutrients, etc., will affect children's growth.

3. How many hours of sleep a day should primary school students get to help them grow taller?

The younger the child, the more sleep they need.

For example, young elementary school students, children in grades 1-3, need 9-10 hours of sleep a day; children in grades 3-6 need 8-9 hours of sleep a day; and after entering middle school, children should also be guaranteed 8 hours of sleep a day. Don't put too much pressure on your children.

From a professional perspective, doctors often do not have particularly high expectations for their children. Why? Because we have seen too many children whose health problems affect their future life, studies, and careers, so doctors always feel that health is the most important thing.

There are many examples where children developed many physical and mental problems after being put under too much pressure, which was counterproductive.

4. Which foods can promote the growth of primary school children?

Be sure to follow the dietary pyramid eating principles.

The most eaten foods in a day should be staple foods, which are rice, noodles, and some grains and potatoes.

The second most important thing should be vegetables, followed by fruits. Vegetables are more important than fruits, especially some green leafy vegetables, which have a relatively high calcium content. Of course, milk also has a high calcium content.

The third is protein. The sources of protein are various meats, eggs, and beans, which are all sources of high-quality protein.

There is also milk. Unless the child is allergic to milk protein and cannot drink milk, other foods can be used as substitutes, such as low-allergy milk and soy milk.

Figure 2 Original copyright image, no permission to reprint

After eating food, there must be a good digestion and absorption process to achieve the purpose of nutrient absorption, so that the body can make good use of these nutrients and have normal growth and development. If there is a problem with digestion and absorption, you should see a doctor for adjustment.