Why do we have different sizes of hands and feet?

Hands and feet grow because bodies grow. Big people need bigger ones. Small kids have smaller ones. They help us hold and walk.

Hands and feet come in different sizes because bodies come in different sizes. A taller body usually needs bigger feet to help it stand and walk, and bigger hands to reach and hold things. It is like wearing the right size shoes: the size that fits one person may not fit another.

Hands and feet are different sizes because each body grows in its own way. Your genes, the body instructions you get from your parents, help decide how tall you get and how big your bones grow. Feet help balance and carry your body, so bigger bodies often have bigger feet. Hands grow to match your arms and help you grab, write, and build. Fun fact: your feet have 26 bones each, more than one quarter of all the bones in your body!