Question

The elementary school nurse is responsible for evaluating each child's overall physical development. During the school-age years, the nurse anticipates that:

1. The child's body weight will almost triple
2. There will be few physical differences among children
3. The child will grow an average of 1 to 2 inches per year
4. Body fat will gradually increase, contributing to a heavier appearance

Answer 1

A school nurse should expect varied growth in children during school-age years including a steady increase in height and weight, with individual differences due to puberty and genetic factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

When evaluating a child's physical development during the school-age years, a school nurse can expect the following growth patterns based on collected data:

• The child's body weight will not triple during the school-age years. This significant rate of weight gain is generally seen in the first year of life.
• There will be noticeable physical differences among children, especially as some may begin puberty earlier than others.
• The child will grow an average of 2 to 3 inches per year during the preschool years and about 2.3 inches per year in middle childhood.
• Body fat does not necessarily gradually increase to contribute to a heavier appearance during middle childhood.

By the age of 12, children typically will have gained an average of 7 pounds per year and reach an average height of 59 inches. During middle childhood, a slow and steady growth is expected, with little difference in size between genders.