Thread: Children and training

I cannot tell you an honest "safe" age. Why don't you give her something light so she doesn't feel left out. I think 7 is a little young to be working out. Just my opinion.

My girls do cardio with me.... Which they end up getting tired/bored then move onto something more exciting.

If she does, keep it light. I almost got my first weight set when I was 7 or 8 but it didn't happen, I started at 11 and have no problems because of it.

I let her walk on the treadmill I set it real slow and attach the safety cord, I let her workout with me using a 1lb dumbbell, but this thing starts at 10lbs. and that is my concern whats the limit?
She had no problem doing the moves with that weight, but I definately don't want to cause her any harm because of my ignorance on the subject. I have heard it can stunt their growth.

I also think 7 is to young to begin a workout program ,but she wants to do it with us and I just want to make sure she does it safely, the new should wear off this pretty quickly.

When my brothers were little, I'd just give them a dumbell to two arm curl. I had weights going as low as 1 1/4.

let her workout.

Absolutely not! 7 years old is way too young, I say 14 at the earliest.

I am really glad Momma brought this question up - I keep seeing more and more stuff on the news here about overweight kids, etc...and had thought about asking ya'll what you thought about the kinds of exercise they should start, especially if they have weight issues.

In Momma's case - I can see her dilemma - she doesn't want to discourage the idea of exercise and yet wants it to be safe - don't they make any kind of equipment for young kids to use? And can it really adversely affect growth?

Everything I've read indicates that children shouldn't train with weights until their early teens. The issue with overweight kids has more to do with diet and inactivity than anything else. I grew up playing outdoors every day. Kids nowadays spend more time sitting in front of the tv with a bag of chips. I think the best thing is to get your kids playing sports and riding bikes with friends until they get a little older. I don't see how this would discourage them from being into fitness. Just my two cents...

Give her balloon weights.

Originally posted by Var
The issue with overweight kids has more to do with diet and inactivity than anything else.

Umm, duh? I didn't see anything on being overweight, and I was not overweight as a child either, I was on the lightweight side.

Originally posted by kbm8795
I am really glad Momma brought this question up - I keep seeing more and more stuff on the news here about overweight kids, etc...and had thought about asking ya'll what you thought about the kinds of exercise they should start, especially if they have weight issues.

In Momma's case - I can see her dilemma - she doesn't want to discourage the idea of exercise and yet wants it to be safe - don't they make any kind of equipment for young kids to use? And can it really adversely affect growth?

Uh...duh! Maybe you'll want to read a little more closely, huh???

Gotcha, I was looking at the original posters comments.

Originally posted by kbm8795
I am really glad Momma brought this question up - I keep seeing more and more stuff on the news here about overweight kids, etc...and had thought about asking ya'll what you thought about the kinds of exercise they should start, especially if they have weight issues.

Let's see, cut out fast food, pop, candy, and all junk food from their diets, get them a frick'n bicycle, take away the damn t.v. and playstation, kick their butts outside and make them ride the bike. It worked for me.

A normal active kid does not nned to "exercise", if they play, ride bikes, etc. that is enough, that along with a decent diet, which is pretty uncommon these days.

Sorry guys - I didn't mean to divert Momma's original question by slugging in that overweight remark - and I know what you are saying is obvious, Prince .... but it seems to me that there have to be issues parents have on here with how to get children to exercise. On one hand, Momma gets a bowflex and sets a great example for a child, but at the same time has to find a way to explain that some activity isn't suitable for the kid at that age.

It's gotta be hard for parents nowadays to do more to regulate a kid's diet, too - more unsupervised meals at school....heck, when I was a kid, I had to sit for hours because I hated eating icky stuff like stewed tomatoes and brussels sprouts, etc. And I'm not sure how easy it is to get a kid outside to play anymore, either. When I was growing up, all the kids in the neighborhood knew each other and we were out being active all the time - I don't sense that today's children build those connections. I just thought some of the parents hear might have ideas about how they handle that while trying to set a good example with their own training.

My question was on allowing her to workout on the lowest setting 10 lbs and do maybe 5 reps. would that cause her any harm?
She is not over weight and since she eats what we eat, she actually eats better than I do, I want eat a vegetable and she prefers them. I even make her lunch 4 to 5 days a week.
We only have a dairy queen in town, so that deters the urge to grab her a happy meal because it's quick and easy.
I want to include her, not harm her.
Thanks for your comments, any and all input is appreciated.

I didn't push my brothers into doing anything overly difficult, 12-15 reps for everything. I think it depends on how strong she is, as to 10 pounds being a risk or not. JMO

I also need to add that the resistance on this bowflex is not the same as free weights, it seems to be less.

Originally posted by Momma2
My question was on allowing her to workout on the lowest setting 10 lbs and do maybe 5 reps. would that cause her any harm?

10lbs may not be heavy to you however to a 7 year old...that's a lot of weight.

She is not over weight and since she eats what we eat, she actually eats better than I do, I want eat a vegetable and she prefers them. I even make her lunch 4 to 5 days a week.
We only have a dairy queen in town, so that deters the urge to grab her a happy meal because it's quick and easy.

At her age, a happy meal isn't going to hurt her. Kids need XX amount of calories. Try doing a search to see exactly how many calories growing boys and girls require.

I want to include her, not harm her.

I know what you mean. I do not allow my kids to work out with me. The MAX I would allow them to do is cardio )and it's simple cardio) because they think it's fun AND they do not do it for long, so, it doesn't affect them. If you want to include your daughter, take her out for a bike ride and jog along beside her. I'm sure letting her play around with the new "toy"(in her eyes) wouldn't hurt a bit. I just wouldn't make it an every day occurance with your child.

You're her mother and YOU know what's best for her. Do what you feel in your heart and mind. I'm sure you know what to do.

Thanks for your comments, any and all input is appreciated.

That's what we're here for sweetie.

Originally posted by Momma2
My question was on allowing her to workout on the lowest setting 10 lbs and do maybe 5 reps. would that cause her any harm?
She is not over weight and since she eats what we eat, she actually eats better than I do, I want eat a vegetable and she prefers them. I even make her lunch 4 to 5 days a week.
We only have a dairy queen in town, so that deters the urge to grab her a happy meal because it's quick and easy.
I want to include her, not harm her.
Thanks for your comments, any and all input is appreciated.

Have her do exercises that utilize her body weight, push-ups, sit-ups, those type of things.

KEEP HER OFF THE BOWFLEX AND AWAY FROM WEIGHTS, SHE IS TOO YOUNG!

will do thanks

Cory was 13 before we let him start going to the gym with us.

I agree with the others, keep it light!

I think it's great that she wants to workout... now is the time to instill a healthy and fit lifestyle.

Originally posted by Prince


A normal active kid does not nned to "exercise", if they play, ride bikes, etc. that is enough, that along with a decent diet, which is pretty uncommon these days.

I agree!! I look back when I was a kid in the 60's/early 70's and we were on the go all the time. We had no choice for the most part, there was only one TV and we had no say on the channel. Kids today need to simply get off there butts.
We even ate all the wrong things but burned it off!

Price what are your reasons? First off, she'll want to lift. Get sick of it and stop, let her get it out of her system, wont hurt her at all.. supervision thats all.