Anonymous wrote:Why are you encouraging a complex by saying he'll catch up as if his goal should be to be bigger/taller? Good things come in small packages!

I think there is a difference between saying you will catch up, or promising he will grow tall someday etc VS reassuring boys these ages that “everyone grows and matures at different rates”. Because from ages 10-17 (or so) there is absolutely incredible variation in boys’ physical and emotional maturity. It isn’t even so much about physical size alone but so many other puberty related factors. It can be very difficult for the outliers who fall on either end of the range.

What? My 9 year old is 65lbs and probably bigger than 75% of his class. Where is this???

Yes of course it’s a thing. Being shorter, even if it’s relative, sucks.

This seems really strange to me at age 9. I would think there is something else going on here. Can you ask the teacher in an open ended way if he/she has noticed any social issues? Sometimes that can add some insight. Also ask him when/where this is happening to see if there is a pattern. A lot of boys this age get really competitive and a bit mean when playing sports on the playground at recess.

My older son didn’t hit 100lbs until he was almost 15! He DID get picked on a lot about his size but not until middle school. At age 9 this seems a little bit off to me.

Why are you encouraging a complex by saying he'll catch up as if his goal should be to be bigger/taller? Good things come in small packages!

This is on of the reasons people in the DMv redshirt their August boys. Sending them on time will make them a target either because they are too small or too immature.

Sounds like he needs some comebacks. A lot of kid teasing stops when you have a good quip and a good attitude. What does he do when someone calls him small?

Anonymous wrote:Yes it is a thing. Being 80 lbs at 9 isn’t small. My son is 30% and about 72. He is strongest kid in the class but shortest boy and no one lets him forget it. You just have to build up their confidence and address it when it comes up. Since 2nd grade kids have been all about being the tallest. I guess it is a bog thing online and with dating because you can choose what height you want. It’s a big deal with sports they want the tallest big kids…

How old is he? 72 lbs is not 30 percentile at all at 9. It’s maybe 50-60 percentile.

yes. my daughter is on the smaller side, she takes after me. She tells me that kids say she looks two years younger. i’ve also heard kids boast about how they will be the tallest. kids will get a reality check around high school when they realize they will resemble their mothers and older sisters… big everywhere.

Yes it is a thing. Being 80 lbs at 9 isn’t small. My son is 30% and about 72. He is strongest kid in the class but shortest boy and no one lets him forget it. You just have to build up their confidence and address it when it comes up. Since 2nd grade kids have been all about being the tallest. I guess it is a bog thing online and with dating because you can choose what height you want. It’s a big deal with sports they want the tallest big kids…

It’s definitely a thing. My dd is told all the time how small she is. Shes got a growth disorder, so we know. I’ve heard the kids talk about it so I know she’s not making it up.

Anonymous wrote:No I have heard a lot of comments myself and I just say “don’t worry, some kids grow first” or “you’re young and will catch up”. We are in the south and have a lot of big children in this area. I would say out of his group of friends he’s with the most, half the boys are easily over 100 lbs, some even 125+ but most around 95-100 lbs.

Those are some seriously overweight 9-year olds! Tell him healthy pays off.

No I have heard a lot of comments myself and I just say “don’t worry, some kids grow first” or “you’re young and will catch up”. We are in the south and have a lot of big children in this area. I would say out of his group of friends he’s with the most, half the boys are easily over 100 lbs, some even 125+ but most around 95-100 lbs.

My son was actually small for his age (10th percentile) and no one made fun of him.

Maybe someone made a passing remark and you're blowing it out of proportion? Or did he fall in with kids who would tease anyone about anything? If the latter, teach him some phrases to push back against those, and if it happens at school, contact the teacher.

My 9 year old is constantly made fun of for being small by his friends. The odd thing is he’s not even small by the growth charts, he’s 80 lbs and taller than average. He is very young for his grade with an August birthday. Is this a thing now where everyone wants to be huge? This is 4th grade.