Physical development in the school-age child (ages 6 through 10 years)

Growth between the ages of 6 and 10 usually occurs in spurts but progresses at an overall steady pace. Most children gain an average of 7lb and 2.5in. each year.

The loss of baby teeth and their replacement by permanent teeth is one of the most dramatic signs of physical development for this age group. Children lose and replace about four baby teeth a year during this period.

In North America, puberty in girls is signaled by the development of breast buds, usually between the ages of 9 and 11. For boys, one of the first signs of puberty is enlargement of the testicles, usually between the ages of 10 and 12.