Growing and Changing

You started life as a single cell too small to see without a microscope. Over nine months inside your mother's womb, you grew from that tiny cell into a complete baby with trillions of cells — all ready to breathe, feed, and learn. Growing is one of the most amazing things a body can do.

Growing means your body makes lots of new cells. Cells do this by splitting in two: one cell becomes two, two become four, and so on. This is how a graze heals, how your hair gets longer, and how you slowly get taller year after year.

Growth happens fastest in the first two years and then continues steadily through childhood. Your bones get longer at special soft areas near their ends called growth plates, where new bone is added. This is why you slowly need bigger shoes and longer trousers!

Growth is controlled by a chemical messenger called growth hormone. It is made by a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain called the pituitary gland. This tiny gland sends signals around your body telling it when and how much to grow.

Good nutrition fuels growth. Protein, found in foods like eggs, meat, fish and beans, helps build muscles. Calcium, found in dairy foods and green vegetables, strengthens bones. Vitamins from fruit and vegetables keep every system running smoothly. A varied diet gives your body all the building blocks it needs.

Everybody grows at their own pace, and that is completely normal. Some friends shoot up early and others later, but most people end up around a similar height in the end. What matters is eating well, sleeping enough, and staying active so your body has everything it needs.