What Is the Average Height and Weight of a 3rd Grader?

If you want to know the average 3rd grader height and the average 3rd grader weight for boys and for girls, then this article will put you firmly in the know.

The American data that we’re using measured and weighed hundreds of third graders using proper anthropometric procedures, so you can be confident that the averages are, at the very least, fairly representative of most 4th grade classes in the US.

Related Grade Guides:

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How tall is the average 3rd grader?

A person checking how tall the average 3rd grader is

How tall is the average 3rd grader? According to the measurement data of third grade children, the average height of a 3rd grader is 4 feet 4 inches for boys and 4 feet 3 inches for girls.

At this young age, 3rd grade boys and girls are of a very similar stature because neither has begun puberty yet.

In terms of their overall physical development, a 3rd grade boy will likely have gained 2 to 2.5 inches of height since second grade and will go on to gain an additional 2 or 2.5 inches of height between grades three and four.

A 3rd grade girl’s physical development timeline is also similar. The average 3rd grade girl will have become roughly 2 inches taller since second grade and will gain almost 3 inches of height between grades three and four.

How much should a 3rd grader weigh on average?

A person checking if they are the average weight for a third grader

How much should a 3rd grader weigh? According to body mass data for third grade children, the average weight for a third grader is 69.8 pounds for 3rd grade boys and 69.1 pounds for 3rd grade girls.

The average 3rd grade boy will have gained approximately 9 lbs since second grade and will go on to gain roughly the same amount of weight between third grade and fourth grade.

It’s a similar story for third grade girls. The average 3rd grade girl will have gained roughly 9 lbs since second grade and will put on around 8 extra pounds of body mass between third grade and fourth grade.

Note that taller 3rd graders will naturally weigh more due to having greater amounts of lean body mass. So just because a child is heavier than average doesn’t mean that they’re unhealthy.

Why is knowing the average 3rd grader height and weight important?

A doctor measuring a girl to see if she is the average height for a third grader

Knowing the average 3rd grader height and the average 3rd grader weight enables you to gauge your child’s physical development in order to see if they’re growing properly.

Do remember that 3rd graders can often be months apart in age, which is a lot in terms of growth. So don’t be alarmed if your child is quite a bit taller or shorter than their peers.

Pediatricians will also find this data useful when deciding whether a given child is growing at the ideal rate.

Of course, when determining the health status of a child, you need to take into account more than just height and weight.

The diet quality and frequency of a 3rd grader’s physical activity are arguably much more important than the numbers on the scale or stadiometer.

What age is 3rd grade in America?

What age is 3rd grade in America? In the USA, 3rd graders, depending on their birthday, are between the ages of 8 and 9 years old.

Third grade corresponds to year 4 in England and Wales in the United Kingdom.

How much exercise does a 3rd grader need to maintain a healthy weight?

Regular exercise is crucial for both a child’s cognitive function as well as their physical health and bodily development.

And with modern society seemingly becoming more sedentary by the year, it’s more important than ever for parents to ensure that their 3rd grader is getting at least 60 minutes of daily exercise.

Taking your children to the park, where they can climb on the equipment, is an excellent way to strengthen their muscles and bones while giving them an opportunity to have fun.

Getting your 3rd grader involved in a sport that they enjoy gives them a chance to socialize and presents an opportunity for them to perform regular physical activity outside of school hours.

Building these kinds of habits in childhood will also increase the likelihood that a child will stay physically active as a teenager and adult, which can reduce their risk of chronic disease.

The verdict on the average 3rd grader weight and height

As we often say, there’s much more to a child’s health than the number on the tape or scale.

Still, knowing both the average height of a 3rd grader and the average weight of a 3rd grader can help you to track your child’s physical development.

There are a variety of reasons (genetics, birthdays, activity level) why a child might be heavier or lighter or taller or shorter than their peers, so make sure to consider these other factors when assessing the physical development of your 3rd grader.

References

3rd Grade Guide — Grand Rapids Parent University. Retrieved from https://parents.grps.org/article/3rd-grade-guide/
Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Governments; Parker L, Burns AC, Sanchez E, editors. Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009. 5, Actions for Increasing Physical Activity. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219690/