small boy

Hi you all!

I was wondering whether anyone here has some more experience about
kids small for their age.

I remarried and now have a 9th grade stepson.I
also have a 5th grade daughter of my own. I especially worry
about my stepson. He really is exceptionnally tiny and thin for a 9th
grader. He's only 4'3 tall and light as a feather. My 5th grade
daughter is 5'4 and strongly built. The difference between the two is
truely dramatic, both in size and strength. My daughter may be tall for a
5th grader, but all her friends also tower over him. He'd be the
smallest kid in her class!

His size is mainly due genetics I guess. His dad (my hubby now) is
half a head shorter than me and really thin.
His mom didnt even reach five feet.

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?

On 14 Sep 2003 09:47:35 -0700,

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?

You posted this before, why change your email addy and repost it
almost a year later? Haven't you done anything in that time?


http://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&l...com%26rnum%3D1


http://tinyurl.com/nbq8


Summary:
Stop worrying if its genetic. He will hit a growth spurt eventually
though he may never be tall. Since he is unusually short, see a
doctor and have his bone age evaluated.

Don't compare him to his sister. Be careful how you approach
the topic with him.

Don't push him, but see if he can be interested in something active,
like tennis or swimming or karate or biking or golf or horseback
riding that is an individual sport rather than a team sport where his
size will matter.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits

In article , Anneleen says...

Hi you all!

I was wondering whether anyone here has some more experience about
kids small for their age.

I remarried and now have a 9th grade stepson.I
also have a 5th grade daughter of my own. I especially worry
about my stepson. He really is exceptionnally tiny and thin for a 9th
grader. He's only 4'3 tall and light as a feather. My 5th grade
daughter is 5'4 and strongly built. The difference between the two is
truely dramatic, both in size and strength. My daughter may be tall for a
5th grader, but all her friends also tower over him. He'd be the
smallest kid in her class!

His size is mainly due genetics I guess. His dad (my hubby now) is
half a head shorter than me and really thin.
His mom didnt even reach five feet.

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?


Your stepson is almost certainly doing fine.

You say you don't expect him to become a big guy, but still it's clear that your
perceptions have been set by the size of your daughter and also likely the size
of others in your family. Else you wouldn't have brought this up. However, your
stepson is totally unrelated, as you know.

You need to re-set your perceptions that your stepson is just another side of
normal, progressing along his normal growth curve. Get used to how his size is.
Get used to how he looks standing next you daughter. For his sake. Now.
Because not accepting his normal self totally *will* impact your relationship
with him and ultimately the cohesiveness of your family.

Also - check start reading another great newsgroup - alt.support.step-parents.
There's a lot of folks there who will be able to directly relate to this and
your whole situation.

Banty

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?

Yes, seeing as how I was in the same boat myself, and had a similar loathing
for exercise and physical activity. PLEASE do not force him into this. Not
everyone is cut out to be a major physical specimen. His interest in computers
and video games could well lead to a lucrative career down the road, too.

My best advice, other than not forcing him into physical activity, is making
sure he is not being bullied at school, which he probably is. I was, and my
parents just didn't even want to hear about it. All they worried about was my
report card a few times a year.

: My best advice, other than not forcing him into physical activity, is
making
: sure he is not being bullied at school, which he probably is. I was, and
my
: parents just didn't even want to hear about it. All they worried about was
my
: report card a few times a year.

If he is being bullied at school, sign him up for karate lessons so he can
learn how--and when--to protect himself.
--
ColoradoSkiBum

Creepy, isn't it?


"toto" wrote in message
...
On 14 Sep 2003 09:47:35 -0700,

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?

You posted this before, why change your email addy and repost it
almost a year later? Haven't you done anything in that time?



http://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&l...com%26rnum%3D1


http://tinyurl.com/nbq8


Summary:
Stop worrying if its genetic. He will hit a growth spurt eventually
though he may never be tall. Since he is unusually short, see a
doctor and have his bone age evaluated.

Don't compare him to his sister. Be careful how you approach
the topic with him.

Don't push him, but see if he can be interested in something active,
like tennis or swimming or karate or biking or golf or horseback
riding that is an individual sport rather than a team sport where his
size will matter.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits

Neither of the kids has grown since then, either. Isn't that odd?


"toto" wrote in message
...
On 14 Sep 2003 09:47:35 -0700,

I've also been thinking it would be good for him to get some
muscles or take on some weight. However he hates any physical
activity. He rather plays computer or video games. So what do you
think? Do you have some ideas? It's not that I expect or want him
to become a big strong guy or so.

Can anyone relate to this?

You posted this before, why change your email addy and repost it
almost a year later? Haven't you done anything in that time?



http://www.google.com/groups?hl=en&l...com%26rnum%3D1


http://tinyurl.com/nbq8


Summary:
Stop worrying if its genetic. He will hit a growth spurt eventually
though he may never be tall. Since he is unusually short, see a
doctor and have his bone age evaluated.

Don't compare him to his sister. Be careful how you approach
the topic with him.

Don't push him, but see if he can be interested in something active,
like tennis or swimming or karate or biking or golf or horseback
riding that is an individual sport rather than a team sport where his
size will matter.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits