Cox, J. W. (1979).Aust. Paediatr. J.,15, 10–15. Growth characteristics of preschool Aboriginal children. Many Australian Aborigines appear small for age when they start attending school. The growth records of over 500 Aboriginal children born since 1970 and living on five Aboriginal communities in Cape York, Queensland are analysed. For the first two to three months of life, the Aborigines appear to have similar measurements for weight and head circumference as British children. Growth retardation occurring at 3 to 12 months of age is partially compensated by a “catch‐up” spurt during the following 1–2 years. This does not fully compensate for the check during the critical period of head growth and the resultant mean head circumference remains below the British average.It seems that the small head circumference and light weight, characteristic of the Aboriginal school child is primarily attributable to growth failure and is not a racial chara