Anyone have a super-tall kid?

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Jaimee.

Well, we do not have super tall kid, Vince being about 6 foot, Natalie a bit over 5 foot, and as adoptive parents, our history in that category is not there. But, I was the tall kid back in my early days, and now the tall old guy, LOL. 6'6" here, but holding, probably getting to those shrinking days ahead.

As a kid, always among the three tallest in grade school; year to year, one of us guys in the same grade were the tallest, the other two runnerups. I think I was most of my adult height by freshman high school. I can say I was picked on some, as kids will do with any kid who is different in any way, just seems to sadly be the way kids are, any generation. In high school, it actually seemed a bit tougher, as several of the little guys in the class, seemingly to want to express their 'toughness', found it a badge of honor if they could fight and maybe beat the big guys. I found myself in enough fights then, and being a pretty easy going guy, always tried to stay out of them, but, sometimes would get into the fight, win some, lose some.

Also, I was pretty much 'expected' to play basketball by the school, with 'hey, you are 6'6", Dan, you must be good, you really need to play'. Trust me, Jaimee, height is probably the least of the attributes you need to play a sport well. First, and most important is desire and interest. I really was not interested. Basketball was nothing of the sport it is today. Even if it was, I am sure my interest would have been the same, low. Coordination, speed, agility, all needed, I had little in those categories, LOL. I really did not enjoy playing ball, but again, I was expected to. I do think it is a LOT different today (that was 50 years ago) with expectations and kids.

Clothing was also tough back then. Today, with so many big kids and adults, a lot less tough in the clothing area.

As I grew into an adult and matured, I found the height was an asset, both in business and personal life. In business, people remember an outstanding trait, one of mine, height. And you sure can't beat it at WDW when scoping a spot for the parades, LOL, never a problem for me. Or helping a lady reach a high up box or can in the grocery store. And certainly many others.

Marie is 5' 3/4", so I guess as they say, opposites do attract. She can keep me in line though.

Tell Isiah he will be just fine, Jaimee. If all he has to deal with is being thought of as older now, all will work out just fine. Really nice to see him growing up as a nice young teen, it's been ages since I saw him.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I was always the tallest in my class. Being a girl and being at least a head taller than everyone was not considered "cool", but I really did not mind. I hung around with my older siblings a lot and played sports year round.

Our DS's are 6'2" (almost 18) and 6'5" (just turned 16). They are both athletes, so they love the height... I think the younger one will still grow a few inches. He is currently wearing a 14 EEEE (extra wide) shoe. You can't find those at WalMart!

 

[janette]

Love your comments about Basketball Dan. My 16yo DD is at least 5'10" (she's to the point of not wanting to know) ; while not super tall she's tall for a girl and is constantly asked if she plays basketball. Last year at a camp we go to the teens played basketball and they teased her since they'd seen her try to play basketball and understood completely why she didn't play.

When she was younger I found it hardest when she got those looks when she was doing something very age appropriate but people assumed she was older due to height. It's better now but people are still sometimes surprised about her age; they just add years for the height.

 

[jsmith]

my boys who are now 19 and 23 are 6 8 and 6 7 respecitivly. They were always far and away the tallest kids in their classes-after a while they got used to it. There are challenges for sure-the youngest wears a size 17 shoe-when he was in high school track finding shoes for him was a terrible challenge-basketball shoes come that large-but running spikes are another story. The Older one-who was an NCAA 800 meter runner had a terrible time finding pants that fit-clothing manufatures assume if you need a 38 inch inseam that you have a 42 inch waste-when your 6 7 and weigh 175 lbs that just aint so. Since he quit running as much do to an injury in his junior year and gained enough weight to be a 36 waist thats gotten a bit easier.
One good thing is that feet stop growing before the rest of them-lol. I think the hardest time they both had was in 8th and 9th grade when they got accused of being "dorky" because they were so big. As they got older and more comfortable with them selves that was no longer an issue.

 

[solferino]

Hardest thing I find - as you mentioned Jaimee - is people thinking he is older than he is and then wondering why he still acts up or behaves like he does (answer being he is 6 not 10!!!)

This is very true- there's someone in DD's school who in 4th grade (1 grade ahead of DD) and just 10 years old- he's about 5'9", but very much a 4th grader in a body of someone much older. His mom is close to if not 6' and his dad is taller than her.

 

[JessicaR]

This is a great thread and thank you OP for creating it!

My son is 10 and has always been a tall kid. I can remember back to when he was under 3 and Busch Gardens or maybe it was Hershey wanted to charge him for 3 and over rates. He was 22 inches at birth so not really that long. He is 5'3 and 10 right now. One other boy in his school is his height. The other children seems so little when they stand next to him but thankfully it doesn't bother him and he hasnt been teased.

My husband and I are of average heights but the men on my moms side of the family are all well over 6 feet. I always felt he would slow down but hasnt happened yet.

I have a question. Do any of you that have tall children hear complaints about pain in legs or back? I actually took him for an Otho evaluation and x-rays due to his complaining that he hurt so often. I was told it was all due to his growing. Anyone else have this too?

I swear kids feet are MUCH larger today compared to when I was a kid! Even the girls feet are larger.

OH also! We stopped eating at Chinese buffets due to them charging him as an adult every single time due to his height. What a stupid way to charge someone!!

 

[blowinbubbles]

LOL, I'm so glad to see that my kids are not the only ones! My youngest, who is not quite 11 and 1/2, is 5'11". In Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade, they always had to hunt down a special desk because his legs pushed up against the desk!

My 13 y/o is also 5'11", but he has the hairy gene. When he was not even 13, I had restaurant staff look at me like I was a liar when I told them, "Two adults, two kids!" LOL!

Most of the men in mine and h's family are no taller than 5'11. But there's a sporadic "tall gene" in his family, and I'm pretty sure my 11 y/o has it!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I have a question. Do any of you that have tall children hear complaints about pain in legs or back? I actually took him for an Otho evaluation and x-rays due to his complaining that he hurt so often. I was told it was all due to his growing. Anyone else have this too?

Oh yes!!! My brother is 6' 3" and he had horrible pains growing up. Heck, I did and I'm only 5' 1". My kids live on motrin when they are growing, DS11 is as tall as me and wears a men's size 9 shoe.
DH is 6 feet, and my mom's brothers are both over 6 feet too. So we know tall runs in the family.

Jamiee it will all work out in the end. DH was 4' 9" until his senior year in high school, he grew 11 inches over the summer.
My brother was always a head taller than the kids in his class, but most had caught up to him in high school. He's now a teacher in Japan and they call him Diakou (Spelling) it means the giant one. He did meet a dad at the school who was taller than him though.

 

[mamamary]

My son is 5 foot 3. He is just a few weeks shy of his 11th b'day. He is among the tallest in the 5th grade. It doesn't bother him at all. Although when he was younger he went thru a phase that he thought he would be like Clifford and just keep growing and growing..... He thought eventually he would not fit in the house. I always had to warn people to not mention his height. Luckily after a few months he got over that and we laugh about it now. One of my sons best friends in his class is among the shortest in 5th grade (even among girls). So you can imagine when they play together. People used to think my son was the older brother of his friend.

My husband was also usually the smallest boy in class so he is quite happy that Kevin is tall for his age. I think it's harder on girls though than on boys. I was always the tallest girl and I wasn't too happy about that.

 

[Jaimee]

Thanks for the replies everyone! And Hi Dan the last time you saw Isaiah he was probably only 5 or 6 lol.

I'll make sure to tell DS that he's not the only one I do agree with the comments about clothes though. It's already hard to find pants for him. 16's in boys are too short, but it's hard to find anything longer that's not too big in the waist. Luckily DS LOVES basketball (his dad played in college..) so he likes his height during basketball season (I do agree with Dan though that there are many other skills needed, just being tall doesn't cut it).

Someone else posted about pains. DS ALWAYS complains about his legs hurting (lately it's been his heels though ) I never thought it was due to growing so fast. I'll have to bring that up at his next Dr's appointment.


Again, I'll make sure DS knows there are other tall kids out there, and by high school a lot of the other kids will "catch up" so it won't be an issue.

 

[golfgal]

I remember having growing pains as a kid and they are AWFUL!! Our kids get them occassionally. Motrin is defiantly in order for those!!

 

[yeartolate]

My son just turned 14 and is 6'1".

The height is not an issue, but finding size 14 narrow shoes is a pain.

 

[ang]

Hi Jaimee.

Also, I was pretty much 'expected' to play basketball by the school, with 'hey, you are 6'6", Dan, you must be good, you really need to play'. Trust me, Jaimee, height is probably the least of the attributes you need to play a sport well. First, and most important is desire and interest. I really was not interested. Basketball was nothing of the sport it is today. Even if it was, I am sure my interest would have been the same, low. Coordination, speed, agility, all needed, I had little in those categories, LOL. I really did not enjoy playing ball, but again, I was expected to. I do think it is a LOT different today (that was 50 years ago) with expectations and kids.

Hi Dan

My DS is 10, is over 5ft, (shoe size small 6.5)kids ask him if he flunk because he recieve A's and tall. He is in the 4th grade....His birthday falls couple of days before school starts so he is at the right age when school starts....
DS came home one day saying is gym teacher wants to know why he is not playing basket....teacher says, you play very well and you are so tall and he should sign up....DS told him, I am in Martial Arts...He gym teacher said that not a sport.....My son did not reply.
Just because you are tall doesn't mean you are suppose to play basketball.

 

[MM27]

I was always one of the tallest kids in my grade all through school. It wasn't a problem, but I always got questioned about my age. I have a late August birthday so I was actually one of the youngest in my class as well. I went to a sleepover when I was in 5th grade and there were some kids there from another school that were asking me all night if I was the birthday girls older sister. They swore I had to be in high school.

 

[winniedapooh]

Hardest thing I find - as you mentioned Jaimee - is people thinking he is older than he is and then wondering why he still acts up or behaves like he does (answer being he is 6 not 10!!!)

I so agree with this. This too has bee difficult for DD, 10, siblings. She is 10, acts 10, and is 5'5" tall with a women's size 11 shoe! People, including, her siblings do not get it! She was 23 3/4 " when she was born 2 1/2 weeks early. Her brothers are 19 and 6' 4 1/2", 15-6'3", and 12 5' 7". Her only sister will be 18 in a month and is horrified at how "short" she is at 5'5" !

 

[lillielil]

I was a really tall kid. I was very long when I was born, and the pediatrician predicted that I'd end up 5'9" or taller. I was 5'5" at 10 and wore a size 8.5 shoe. Can you imagine having your 10-year-old borrowing your clothes and shoes? My poor mom... I was always the tallest in my class. I hated it!! I hit puberty really early, though, so I pretty much stopped growing in 5th grade. I gained another 3/4 of an inch, but that's it.

My brother, on the other hand, was always really short. He was long when he was born (he was 21 inches even though he was 2 months premature, but weighed only 3.5 lbs - yikes), and then didn't really grow at all. His pediatrician predicted 5'7". When he got to high school, though, he grew something like 8 inches in a year. He's 6'2" now and wears a size 12 shoe. Go figure. He's the freak of the family - all the other men are no taller than 5'10 1/2" and none of the women are taller than me.

 

[christineann]

My daughter measured exactly 6 feet tall on her 12th birthday.......that's a tough age for any kid, and she just felt "weird." A JV coach took her out of middle school basketball, and through sports, she gained a lot more confidence in herself. She is hopefully finished growing at the age of 20 at 6'3" and very slender. She turned down athletic scholarships (she was told she would have to put on 20-25 pounds) when she was awarded academic money in her chosen field, and she loves being tall. Finding shoes is very difficult.

She was 22" at birth. At 5'9", I am a good bit shorter than both of my kids.

 

[mom23boys]

My oldest DS (14 on Feb 12) is 6'3 and still growing. He wears a size 14 shoe. He was 24" was he was born and if I double his height at 2 he will be 6'8".

He really does not like being the tallest, and always was in his class. He gets so annoyed by everyone saying "wow your so tall".

When he was younger everyone said put him on basketball teams he's so tall, he played travel and rec but played other sports too, now he wants to play basketball, every team he can get on and has given up all other travel teams to play except rec baseball.

My youngest two are also the tallest in there class or near but have always been 2" shorter than there older brother at different stages.

I do have a hard time finding him clothes, he wears a mens 2x although not fat 210 pounds he is just broad and solid.

BTW, I get his shoes from Eastbay dot com they do have good prices and have a great selection and usually have free shipping.