Our fan Andrew O. asked, how much can you grow overnight? For starters, you stretch about 1/2 inch every night, but shrink back down 1/2 inch because of “gravity” pulling down all day and smushing your body. Astronauts actually grow up to 2 inches when they float in space. But on top of that, your bones might grow really fast for short bursts, up to 1/2 inch in one day or night!
Wee ones: Find the tallest thing in the room that’s shorter than you.
Little kids: Who’s the tallest person in your family? How many feet taller than you is he or she? Find out your height to the closest foot. Bonus: If you grow 1/2 inch overnight AND stretch another 1/2 inch, how much taller are you in the morning?
Big kids: If you grew 1/2 inch every day, how much could you grow in 1 week? (Hint if needed: How much could you grow in 2 days, then in 4, then in 6…) Bonus: If you grow 1/2 inch each month, with your first in this month (November), in what month will you be 3 inches taller?
Answers:
Wee ones: Answers may include a bedpost, a chair back, or a baseball bat leaning against the wall.
Little kids: Different for everyone…find out that person’s height, then subtract your own. Bonus: 1 inch.
Big kids: 3 1/2 inches. Bonus: In April, since you need 6 monthly spurts including November.
