Girls 6-14 grow at varying speeds, and almost never proportionally. Length outpaces width. Then width catches up. Then a kid who was a size 8 at the start of term is a size 10 by mid-term. Here is how to size activewear so you are not replacing it every six weeks.
Measure her, not the size she wore last
The single biggest mistake is buying the same size as last time without checking. Girls bodies change unevenly: the rise can grow before the inseam, or a 9-year-old can hit 10cm of leg length in a single growth spurt. Measure her current waist, hip, and inside-leg before ordering, and check the brand's actual size chart (not just the size label).
What "true to size" actually means
Australian girls activewear sizing tends to run true: a size 10 fits a 10-year-old of average height and build. Imported brands (especially fast fashion from Europe and the US) often run small. If you don't know a brand's reputation, default to sizing up, especially on length.
Between sizes? Size up for length
If she is between sizes, the answer is almost always size up. Reasons:
- Fabric that fits at purchase will be a touch loose, but the wide waistband adjusts
- Length runs out fastest in 7/8 leggings; sizing up buys 2-3 months of fit
- Loose-but-stretchy beats tight-and-too-short for movement
Pieces that fit longest through growth
- Bike shorts are the most forgiving across growth: short length means inseam doesn't matter as much, wide waistband adjusts
- Crop tops with a longer body length last longer than short crops; the body length absorbs torso growth before becoming "too short"
- 3/4 leggings last longer than full-length because length below the knee is less sensitive to leg growth
- 7/8 leggings fit longer than full-length but shorter than 3/4 (length-wise)
What to expect by size band
Australian girls sizing typically maps roughly to age, with some variability:
- Size 4-6: 4-6 year olds, slim through hip and waist
- Size 8-10: 8-10 year olds, more variation through the body
- Size 12-14: pre-teen, often need to start considering adult XS for slim builds
Adults XSmall on the Lucia line
The Lucia line includes Adults XSmall sizing for older teens and slim adult builds who want the same Pink Lemon Dancewear x Scout Active fit. If she is hovering at the top of size 14 and growth has slowed, Adults XSmall is often a better long-term fit than continuing to size up in girls.
The full Scout Active sizing approach
Sized for girls 6-14 (4-14 on Lucia), true to Australian girls sizing, generous through the rise. If she is between sizes, size up for length and let the wide waistband do the work. Browse Scout Active or read the fabric story.
