With all the stages of development and growth spurts children go through, it can be hard for parents to know whether or not their child is developing according to the norm. Below is an outline of the typical rates of development parents can expect to see in their children from age six through eight to help gauge your child’s growth.

Middle Childhood, Ages 6-8

Right Size: Both girls and boys at this age are typically between 3’5” and 3’9”; a child over 4’2” would be considered tall for this age, and under 3’5” would be considered short.

Right Weight: During this time period of your child’s life, you can expect to see an average gain of around eleven pounds between the ages of six and eight. Both boys and girls tend to weigh about 46 pounds at age six, 50 pounds at age seven, and 57 pounds by age eight. A girl as young as 8 years old may be starting puberty, so if her weight seems on the higher side, it is not necessarily a cause for concern.

Right On Track:Children at this age begin looking outside the family for new activities, and friends become more important. Having a “best” friend is quite common by age 8, and they are placing greater value on the opinions of their peers. Some social warning signs to look for are hyperactivity interfering with school performance and an inability to get along with peers or siblings; or a lack of friends; and uncooperative behavior.

Development Tracks for All Ages:

Right on Track: Development Milestones  for 9-11 Year Olds [3]

Is My Kid on Track? The Right Weight, Size and Social Skills for 12-14 Year Olds [4]

The Teen Track: Right Weight, Right Size, Right Skills for 15-17 Year Olds [5]