Book 2, Question 98
Why Do Growing Bones Need Calcium?
Your bones are growing every day, and they need building materials. A mineral called calcium helps bones get hard and strong. Calcium is brick for bone!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 2
More fun facts
- Calcium is the most common mineral in your body.
- Besides building bones and teeth, calcium helps keep your heart beating, muscles working, and nerves firing.
- Strong bones are built during childhood and the teen years.
- People slowly start losing bone as they get older, starting in their twenties.
- Many teens do not get the recommended amount of calcium.
- Too little calcium and vitamin D in young kids can cause rickets, which makes bones soft.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, KidsHealth (Nemours), KidsHealth (Nemours)
Questions kids ask
Why does calcium matter so much for kids?
Strong bones are built when we are kids and teens, and that protects against bone loss later.