My son is 12 years old but VERY small for his age. He hasn't had a growth spurt yet and sees his peers grow away from him (especially girls). To make matters worse his 9yo sister now towers over him. She's a full head taller and also a lot stronger than he is. People always assume he's the younger child.

We've had him tested by a doctor and luckily there is nothing wrong with him. He appeaars to be a late bloomer, which means he will get later in puberty than other kids.

Does any of you know any small kids or late bloomers? I noticed in my sons class that the girls are quite a bit taller than the boys.

By Marg on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 01:35 pm:

I was one of the tallest girls in my class up until the 10th grade. I'm 5'5". However that summer going back to school all the boys were taller than me and I just stopped growing.

One day he'll spring up and be looking down on you. It happened to my nephew who is now 6'2". It seems like it happens overnight!

By Momaroze on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 01:41 pm:

When my dh was a boy he was VERY short. He said eventually within a Summer he went through a major growing spurt and caught right up to the rest of the boys. I have noticed my ds's school mates have grown so tall within a Summer time. All the Summer before gr. 8. My ds seems to have grown more once he hit the age of 13. Hope the same for your ds. It does take time. It is difficult when your the shortest and even more difficult when the girls are taller than you. Tell him to hang in there. And yes, girls do tend to grow quicker than boys!

By Ladypeacek on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 01:46 pm:

A friend of mine was VERY short all through school! He was shorter than everyone until his senior year of high school, his junior year he was only about 5'4 but by the time he graduated he was 6'2!!!! He is so tall now!

By Sanneke on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 02:11 pm:

Thanx for the remarks so far!

My son is barely over 4' at age 12 so it's hard for me to imagine he'll sprout. How tall are your kinds?

By Kernkate on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 02:37 pm:

My DS who is 9 is 50 lbs and 4' is one of the smallest kids in his class. I know he will have a growth spurt sooner or later...

By Cat on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:41 pm:

Gosh, I don't know how tall my kids are, but I think Robin (10 1/2) is about 4'2" and Randy (8 1/2) is probably around 3'11". Robin weighs 75lbs (only because a med he started two months ago made him gain 10lbs) and Randy's about 55lbs. My kids are small compared to their classmates, but they're also younger than most in their grades (5th and 3rd). Sunday night at church Robin was sitting at a table with about 10 other 5th and 6th graders and he looked SO TINY!!! I had at least two adults ask me "Is Robin is 5th grade???" Yep, that's my boy.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:02 pm:

My youngest son suffered so much from being small and maturing really late. At 17 he was my height - 5'2", and had not yet begun to mature so he was still "pretty", with the soft facial features an adolescent has. I can report that about a year later he shot up and is now 5'11", and while certainly handsome (see picture - the really thin one), is not "pretty". But oh, it drove him to distraction and he really, really was miserable. I sympathized, and told him I too was a late bloomer, but it didn't help - and won't help your son.

I would suggest that you help him find something he can do that he is really good at that other kids will admire - karate, gymnastics, swimming, some sport where size is not an issue, or something not sports related. This might help his self-esteem in that he could be really good at something other kids admire and are not as good at.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 07:03 pm:

And, my middle son shot up in 7th grade - grew 8 inches and went through three shoe sizes in one year.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 11:08 am:

We have friends whose son has always been skinny. Of course, his dad is tall and skinny, too. Most of the time, my daughter who is a month younger outweighed him and was taller. Now, I think he is taller than she is. They are both almost 15 now. He was always low on the growth charts when he was younger, but now seems to be growing to a good adult height.