Kamis, 20 Maret 2025

Do children really grow faster in the spring?

Make every day more interesting. Each day a surprising fact opens a world of fascinating information for you to explore. Did you know that….?

March 20, 2025

Original photo by Sharomka/ Shutterstock

Children grow faster in the spring.

If you think the son/niece/grandchild in your life is sprouting before your eyes now that the winter clothing has been shed, you're probably not imagining things. Researchers have long studied the connection between seasonal changes and youth growth patterns, with substantial evidence pointing to higher rates of growth among children in the Northern Hemisphere during the spring and summer months. While we might question results drawn from, say, a 1930 publication, newer research has validated these older findings: A 2015 study of 760 Danish students aged 8 to 11 revealed the most growth recorded around April and May, while a 2022 paper, which tracked the development of thousands of Texas kids from kindergarten to fifth grade, confirmed strong growth rates in spring and early summer.

But while we have the numbers to show that children shoot up like springtime onion stalks, the science is less definitive when it comes to determining why. One possible explanation is that exposure to longer hours of sunlight may stimulate bone growth and hormone regulation. Other potential factors, which can vary according to location and financial means, include increased access to fresh foods and healthy activities come springtime. Whatever the reasons, the onset of warmer weather should provide a signal to parents that Junior will likely grow out of those pants and shoes sooner rather than later.

Together with

Outsmart the Noise

Ready to take your ears into the future? This revolutionary hearing aid uses advanced directional microphones to filter the natural sound all around you, meaning you can focus on what you want to hear and soften what you don't. These tiny powerhouses work anywhere, from bustling cafes to quiet parks, and more than 540,000 customers have already experienced what a difference they make. Ready to hear what all the fuss is about?

Check It Out

Thank you for supporting our sponsors. They help keep Interesting Facts free.

Human noses and ears never stop growing.

During sleep, children get a boost of the __ hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

Numbers Don't Lie

Annual growth rate (in inches) of a prepubescent child

2.5

Percentage of children born in spring, per CDC records from 1994 to 2003

24.86%

Number of children in the world aged 14 or younger

2 billion

Age at which people typically begin to shrink

40

Advertisers help keep Interesting Facts free

Children gain the most weight in summertime.

While this may seem counterintuitive, given all that frolicking in parks and pools, several studies indeed show that children add the most pounds in summer. So what gives? It may simply be a sign of the technology-fueled times: Instead of chasing after friends, kids nowadays often prefer to engage in video games or other sedentary screen activities when not in school. Some experts also believe that the lack of a school day structure may be to blame: With children less likely to wake up at a regular hour, and parents less likely to enforce strict bedtimes, the irregular sleep patterns that follow end up disrupting the circadian rhythms that impact eating habits and digestion.

Today's edition of Interesting Facts was written by Tim Ott and edited by Bess Lovejoy.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

7 Spine-Tingling Facts About Bones

Read More

Advertisers help keep Interesting Facts free

We love to collaborate. To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities, please connect with us here.
1550 Larimer Street, Suite 431, Denver, CO 80202

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar