Rationale
Growth is the defining feature of childhood. Genetic and environmental factors influence the rate of growth and the final stature and body habitus the child attains. Regular monitoring of growth provides the clinician with one of the best indicators of the underlying health of the child.

Objectives

• Explain and demonstrate the ability to use growth charts in the longitudinal evaluation of height, weight and head circumference
• Recognize abnormalities of growth which warrant further evaluation, such as crossing lines on a growth chart, discrepancies between height, weight and head circumference, short stature, failure to thrive, obesity, microcephaly and macrocephaly.
• Identify intrauterine factors which affect growth of the fetus.
• Recognize normal variants of growth, such as familial short stature and constitutional delay.