* PUBERTY THE SPURT GROWTH

PUBERTY-It is the period in the developmental span

when the child changes from an asexual to a sexual
being.
GROWTH SPURT-A growth spurt is a time during
which our body has a more intense period of growth.

 The puberty growth spurt for girls begins between

8.5 and 11.5 years ,with a peak coming ,on the
average at 12.5 years. From then on ,the rate of
growth slows down until growth gradually comes to
standstill between seventeen and eighteen .
 Boys experience a similar pattern of rapid growth
except that their growth spurt starts later and
continues for a longer time.
 For boys ,the growth spurt starts between 10.5 and 14.5 years,
reaches a peak between 14.5 and 15.5 years and is then
followed by a decline until twenty or twenty one years ,when
growth is completed.
 Increase in height ,weight and strength comes at approximately
the same time.
 The rapid growth and development that occur during puberty
depends partly on
Hereditary factors ,as they influence the endocrine glands, and party on
environmental factors, of which nutrition has been found to be most
important.
Poor nutrition in childhood causes a diminished production of the
growth hormone.
Good nutrition ,on the other hand, speeds up the production of this
hormone.
Emotional disturbance can affect growth by causing an over production
of the adrenal steroids, which have adverse effect on the growth
hormone.

 When the growth spurt of puberty is interfered will by

illness ,poor nutrition ,or prolonged emotional tension, there will
be delayed fusion of the bones and children will not attain full
height. However ,if such disturbances are detected in time and
corrected, growth can speeded up to three or four times its
normal rate and continue at that rate until children reach their
hereditary potentials.