I'm looking for a book about being small for your age. My nephew is 3 months younger than my son and EVERYONE always comments on it when they're together. My sister is very sensitive about the subject and is maybe creating a sensitivity in my nephew. I want my nephew to be OK with being smaller, to see the good things about it. Does anyone have any book suggestions? The boys are 5.
There is a Sesame Street book about being "big and small" It talks about the advantages and disadvantages of being both sizes. I believe its called "It's Not Easy Being Big". I don't remember the author but its probably at the library. Has Big Bird, Elmo Bert and Ernie in it. Its a good first level reading book too for that age as well.
Do I have a great book for you: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon.
I recommend it for everyone!
It's fabulous for starting a discussion with young kiddos about being different, whether small, or buck toothed, or having a funny laugh etc and being proud of yourself.
And yes, if your sister reacts as if there is a problem with your nephew being small then he will certainly view his height as something to be embarrassed by. Instead she should embrace the difference, all his differences, as what makes him him and not just any other kid. That way he grows up to be proud of everything that makes him the unique person he is.
Read the book with your kids! It is fabulous!
Not exactly a book suggestion...(although, looking at it from the opposite end of the spectrum, my 7 year old is the size of an average 8/9 year old and taller than small 10 year olds)...MOST kids books have the protagonist as "little". From very young kid's books, like the little engine that could, to the Berenstain Bears, to myriad pictureboks like Chopsticks, or chapter books -the Stilton, Mouse dective...the Littles...Stuart Little, etc- where the main character is a MOUSE, and by definition littler than EVERYONE. Let's also not forget Lucy in the Lion Witch & the Wardrobe, or twins in Spiderwick, or Harry Potter, or Jack & Annie in the Magic Treehouse, or Charlie in Charlie & the Chocolate factory, or Madeline who littler than everyone else (and pluckier)...actually that's a BIG theme...Little & Plucky. In Most children's books, the small characters are the heros and the tall children are the bullies. Although in my own personal experience ;), it tends to be the littler kids who are bullies...whether it's Napoleon-esque, or just never being taught to be carefull of bigger kids. That sounds odd, doesn't it? But it physicially hurts to get hit/kicked/punched as WELL as hurts bigger kids feelings...yet for some reason parents with littler kids seem to think it's okay for their smaller one to beat up on my bigger one. Nope.).
Oops...side tracked...
Anyhow...not exactly a book suggestion...but speaking from an athlete's point of view...it's better to be smaller than average for MOST sports. Dance, gymnastics, horse racing, diving, ice skating, crew, martial arts, soccer, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, skating boarding, surfing, gosh...the list could just go on and on. It has to deal with
- being able to have the rotation necessary to be competitive
- lower center of gravity
- better body control younger (taller kids have more growth spurts, which then means they have to start all over learning muscle memory)...these are things like coordination, balance, coiled power, rotation, body awareness, etc.
- better strength to weight ratio (similar as above...if you're 70 pounds it's harder for little biceps to pull you up than if you're 40 pounds. Since muscles have a limited amount of development that they can do before puberty, and then after puberty if you're STILL growing and growing...essentially it gives littler kids about a 10 year head start on their strength to weight AND body control).
<grinning> Anyhow...this list could also go on...good luck!
I don't have a book suggestion, but my daughter is also small for her age. She was below the 3rd percentile and her doctor kept offering a referral to an endocrinologist. My daughter is now 4, but was diagnosed as small for gestational age (SGA) and is now catching up to her peers (won't ever be a giant, but can at least keep up better, now).
If your nephew is in the 3rd percentile or lower, your sister should consider having his bone-age checked with an x-ray and the first line of growth hormone testing to see if there is a deficiency or not. He could be helped either way.
There was also some mention to me about a gluten allergy or something that can cause slower growth. She should talk to the pediatrician about options. The longer she waits, the longer it will take your nephew to catch up if there is a problem or if he is SGA.
My daughter feels stronger, runs faster and is much less frustrated around her peers now that she can kind of keep up. If you would like to know more, just let me know.
Good luck to your nephew,
D.
