It’s fun to watch kids grow. Once they are 7-years old, that little homemade measuring device on your door frame has gotten quite a few niches.
What is the average height for a 7-year-old? (in feet) The average height of a 7-year-old is 3.8 feet to about 4.1 feet. There’s not much of a difference in the average height of 7-year-old girls to boys.
There are a lot of children that are not average. Whether a child is short or tall isn’t a big deal. However, if your child falls too low it can be a sign that they suffer from some kind of growth failure.
How Often Should I Measure My Child?
Growing is extremely exciting for a child. I remember when I was little I just wanted to be older. Every day I hoped that people would see me for the big kid that I knew I was.
Growing can be exciting for both parents and children, but it can also pose some worry for the parents. It can be hard to know how often you should measure your child to make sure they are still healthy.
Your child really only needs to be measured about once a year as they grow older. The only time that you should measure them more than that is when they are born.
However, there’s nothing wrong with measuring them for the fun of it. Kids love that sort of thing.
What is The Best Way to Measure my Child’s Growth?
The best way to measure your child’s growth is through BMI measuring. Sometimes your child’s height is what it is. Even if they are a bit shorter or taller than normal doesn’t mean there is something wrong with them.
BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This type of measuring takes into account not only your height but also your weight. It gives you an overall idea of how healthy you are.
To know if your 7-year-old is in the healthy range, click here. This BMI counter is free and can accurately gauge whether or not your child is obese.
Should I Worry if My Child is Short?
It is rarely a concern if your child is a little bit shorter than average. Every child is different and some even end up being taller than those who passed them when they were seven.
If your child is under the below-average percentile than you might have some cause for concern. Children can stop growing as fast and as tall due to diseases. (The same goes for children who are over the above-average height.)
If you are concerned that your child is abnormally low, first look at your genetic history. Sometimes the short genes are passed down. If you are sure that it is not because of genetics, you may want to take your child to see a doctor.
Also, if you want to give your child an enormous headstart/jumpstart with their reading, I can’t recommend this program any more highly, take just a minute and check it out.
What is a Growth Chart?
A growth chart is a line that measures the average height of the persons of a certain age. The height of some children and adults are compared to this chart. They are placed on the chart which determines which percentile they fall into for their age and sex.
Diseases Related to Height
There are several diseases that can/will affect your child’s growth. Here is a list of a few that will affect whether or not your child will reach a healthy height/weight.
This list is not an extensive one. It only has a few examples of common diseases/genetic abnormalities which can affect your child’s growth.
(GHD) Growth Hormone Deficiency
This deals with the pituitary gland not producing the hormone necessary for growth. This is common among children and affects your child’s height. This is treatable.
(CHD) Congenital Heart Disease
This means that the heart is abnormal at birth. It can affect more in a child than just their height. It will cause the child to grow at a slower rate in almost everything.
Achondroplasia
This is a type of dwarfism. It is not inherited but is a mutation. With this abnormality, your child will probably stop at about 4 feet in height.
Rickets
This is caused by a lack of Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. All three are needed for the growth of healthy bones. If your child doesn’t get enough they could be in danger of this. Rickets also affects more than just stature.
However, your child would have to have an extremely severe deficiency for this to happen. No need to freak out because you’ve missed one day of giving your child their daily vitamin.
Rickets happens in extreme cases of deficiency of Vitamin D, calcium, and/or phosphate.
Aarskog syndrome
Aarskog syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation of the X chromosome. It isn’t likely that your child has it, but it is another disorder that will affect your child’s stature.
You probably don’t have to worry too much about whether your child has this or any of the other disorders and diseases. Most 7-year olds are relatively healthy.
The previously mentioned cases can happen, but they are rare.
How to Deal With Anxiety Regarding Being Tallest or Shortest in the Class
Some kids may feel disappointed about being the smallest and they may feel like being taller is better. Really tall children may feel uncomfortable with being the tallest.
Whatever the case may be, you can reassure them that everyone is different and some kids even grow taller than others once they get older. You need to also remember that it’s pretty normal for kids to want to be the tallest.
It’s all a part of growing up. Kids like to know that they are progressing even if they don’t know that about themselves. Reassuring them about their height and helping them get excited about growing will help take away some of that anxiety.
Measuring them often- at their request- isn’t going to hurt them. Be encouraging and remind them that they still have lots of time to get big and strong.
Related Questions…
How do I know if my child is too short? If your 7-year-old is less than 3 feet tall you may have some cause for concern. There may be some growth issues there. The average height for a 7-year-old is between 3.8 and 4.1 feet.
What can I do to help my child grow? There are supplements that your 7-year-old can take if their height is extremely below average. The best medicine is to keep them healthy and make sure they are eating right and getting enough sleep. Diet and sleep are really important for your child’s growth.
What should I do if I think my child is abnormally tall? It is possible for a child to be abnormally tall; even to an unhealthy degree. If you think that your child is abnormally tall, don’t be afraid to take them to your pediatrician and get some professional advice. They’ll be able to tell you if your child is at risk or not.
