Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

How does the height spurt in boys compare to girls during puberty?

1. It occurs later than in girls

2. It occurs approximately at the same time as in girls

3. It occurs earlier than in girls

4. It cannot be predicted

The correct answer is: It occurs later than in girls

During puberty, boys experience a height spurt that typically occurs later than that in girls. This is primarily due to the differences in the timing of puberty between the sexes. Girls usually enter puberty around ages 10 to 14, and their growth spurts peak earlier in this period, often before their first menstrual cycle. In contrast, boys generally start puberty later, around ages 12 to 16, with their growth spurts peaking subsequently. This delayed timing in boys leads to a more pronounced increase in height as their growth plates remain open longer compared to girls. Thus, the correct understanding of the relationship between the height spurts of boys and girls is that boys generally experience this spurt later in the developmental timeline.