soodle

Speaking as a health professional, following the 25th centile for both height and weight would indicate her being in perfect proportion not underweight in the slightest (so I'd say don't worry )

I'll see if I can pick the brains of a dietician (in the office next door) when I'm back in work to ask about weight/diet/exercise/onset of menstruation. I'll let you know

I don't know, it sounded about right so I've looked at my friend Google and found these links, which both seem to suggest that an upward groth spurt signals the start of puberty, periods start around 2 years later and there's not much growing afterwards.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growth/growth_13_to_18.html#

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/lifecycle/teenagers/girl_s_growth.shtml

Is it sensible to think that an early growing child will be 'ready' to go en pointe earlier than a little dancer of the same age? My dd is only 9 but is 4ft11 and size 5 shoes (and I don't think she's destined to be a giant as I've been the same height/shoe size since about 10 or 11, just have grown width-wise!). So I'm thinking she may be thought to be 'ready' younger? I'm hoping not, having seen the price of pointe shoes!!!!

A child's weight and size has nothing to do with the maturation of the skeleton - how bone replaces cartilege.

 

The one question that keeps being asked which no one answers is:

 

Why the hurry?

I'm not sure if you've replied to my post above or just generally but to clarify I didn't mean because she's tall will she be 'ready' early but because she's likely to reach her adult height young does that mean her bones will be more mature? I'm in no rush either, just curious.

Is it sensible to think that an early growing child will be 'ready' to go en pointe earlier than a little dancer of the same age? My dd is only 9 but is 4ft11 and size 5 shoes (and I don't think she's destined to be a giant as I've been the same height/shoe size since about 10 or 11, just have grown width-wise!). So I'm thinking she may be thought to be 'ready' younger? I'm hoping not, having seen the price of pointe shoes!!!!

My dd lived in Startrite when she was younger, but the sizes didn't go up high enough. She had very long narrow feet, and the size seemed to follow the school year i.e. in Year 6 she was a Size 6 and Year 7 a Size 7. Luckily it stopped there and with ongoing ballet training she has build up her arch and shortened the overall length.

That's reassuring, dd does seem to have slowed down now, she's been a 5 for a while now but between the ages of 8 and 9 went from a 1 to a 5! Maybe she won't end up sharing shoes with her dad after all!

Having trained as a childrens shoe fitter and having 2 dancers myself. I try to encourage all children to wear more sensible shoes, not just dancers!

Startrite shoes are the best for either very narrow or very wide feet. However the styles are not very fashionable and most children refuse to wear them. But there are a couple of more fashionable ones called Angry Angels which are made by startrite and these are a lot more supportive than your regular off the peg ballet style pump. Here is a link and they do come up very narrow so possibly ideal for your daughters feet. http://www.angryangels.co.uk/our-shoes

That's great, thanks. We've looked at Startrite, dd's not keen on the style and I'm not keen on the prices (not when she'll hate them! But I've never heard of the Angry Angels range, I've noticed they stock them in the shop I pass most days at work. Will def give them a whirl.

My 6 year old son would be a lovely ballet dancer, except for his complete lack of interest!

Weirdly I was asked if I'd had dance lessons due to my posture when doing a manual handling course at work (taught by a physio). Obviously those few years of dancing badly as a young child had an impact!

We just struggle with shoes full stop, even in the C|larks school shoe section. They all seem to be the same style, flat and low and rarely available in the right width fitting. If anyone has any suggestions of where to look for her next school shoes, they'd be gratefully received. She's nearly 10 but is a 5D shoe fitting (same size as me but my feet are fatter)!!

At POB, you can apply between the ages of 8 and 12. Your kids' height and weight have to be in certain boundaries and you go to a first audition which is purely physical. Tomorrow DD will be measured and weighed, they will check her natural outturn, natural suppleness and make her do demi-pliés, pliés, jumps, walk naturally, do a frog and so on...

If she passes, she'll be invited to a lesson in 2 weeks time...

 

The difficulty at her age (12) is that she has to have natural potential and technique to sort of match the kids who are already there...

Out of interest, how tall/heavy do they want girls to be?

E is for expensive (enough said)