If you see a group of children around the age of 9-10 years, and the boys seem shorter than the girls, it's because _____.

• A. Boys tend to have growth spurts before girls.
• B. The boys are abnormally short
• C. The girls are abnormally tall
• D. Girls tend to have growth spurts before boys

Answer: (D)

At this age, the timing of growth spurts differs between boys and girls. Girls typically begin puberty earlier, and estrogen stimulates an earlier growth spurt. Boys usually start their growth spurt later, around ages 11–13, as testosterone drives growth. So around 9–10, girls may already be taller because they’ve started growing sooner, while many boys have not yet begun their rapid growth. This is a normal pattern, not an indication of abnormal height in either gender, and over time boys commonly catch up and often exceed girls in height.