When counseling a 14-year-old girl in Tanner stage 2-3, what growth-related information is appropriate?

In Tanner stage 2-3, a 14-year-old girl is typically experiencing significant physical changes related to puberty, including the onset of the growth spurt associated with this developmental stage. At this point in development, many girls are just beginning to experience their peak growth velocity, which is when they grow more rapidly in height.

Answering that she is likely to experience a growth spurt soon is appropriate because growth patterns in girls commonly show a significant increase in height during the early stages of puberty (typically between Tanner stages 2 and 3). The girl in this situation is on the brink of this growth spurt, which usually occurs shortly after the start of breast development.

Recognizing the timing of these developmental milestones is important in counseling young girls, as it helps frame their expectations about their physical changes and reinforces positive body image during a period that can be filled with uncertainty and self-consciousness.