Weight Lifting for Kids

[jack2000man]

Hi everyone,

I just signed up to this site today. I have two sons that are growing up fast and they watch me workout everyday and they are dying to get into it.

Back when I read about young kids and training 20 years ago, the common beliefs were that kids shouldn't weight train until they reached puberty or about age 13. If they are going to lift, it should be very light weights/high rep routines. Back then it was commonally believed that heavy weights could stunt their growth or "damage the growth plates".

Is this still the belief today or has knowlege increased in this area? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jack

 

[titans1854]

how old are your sons?

 

[soxmuscle]

Weights will not damage there growth plates or any of that crap. At a young age I would stress the importance of correct form, and over time add weight allowing them to become as big and as strong as they can be.

 

[jack2000man]

They are 6 and 7. I know that sounds way too young but they are dying to do it. They are always playing with the leg press and pulldown machines and seeing how big a dumbell they can lift etc.

On the one hand, my gut tells me they are way too young, but on the other hand, everywhere I look I see fat, lazy kids eating junk food and playing video games all day and I hate to discourage my kid's enthusiasm for such a positive thing as exercise.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

Yeah it's definitely a good thing that they want to get into it, what with all of the weight problems in our society. But I think as long as you stress perfect form and make sure they don't try to lift weights too heavy for them, it'd be a great thing for them to get into. I'm fifteen and I lift heavy to gain strength, but I always make sure I'm comfortable with the weight I'm at before moving up. I think it's a good idea to increase the reps of the weight you're using a few times, and then move up in weight and lower the reps again.

 

[thatguy]

At 6 and 7, you should probably limit their "training" to push-ups and other plyometrics.

 

[Evil ANT]

I'd say "no." Don't let them lift as this young of an age.

Apparently, when a child lifts weights at too young of an age, his or her body exerts itself rebuilding the damaged muscle instead of focusing on growing strong and healthy bones.

Makes sense, right?

I mean, when you work out a muscle you essentially tear it down and allow your body to rebuild it. Adults can do this just fine as our bones are generally done growing. Children, however, aren't done growing so attempting to add too much muscle will only hinder their body's ability to further proper bone development. The nutrients they consume will go to repairing damaged muscles instead of building a strong bone structure.

 

[Newt]

I agree with Ant. I'm sorry but I still believe that somewhere around 11 or 12 is the youngest you should be to start lifting. Also, to those who say lifting heavy doesn't effect the growth plates of young children.........

 

[mikesteg]

They might even be too young for this, but you seem to have an opportunity to get them in the right nutritional mindset. "You boys are too young to lift, but here is what you can do..."

 

[Vieope]

I would teach them all the moves with very light barbells and dumbells. I think their bones and joints are too weak for weight lifting.

 

[sabre81]

yeah i would teach them how to do basics like pushups and pull ups and crunches, but IMO, thats too young to lift weights. Id say probably 13-14 is a good time to start with weights.

 

[Newt]

Yeah tech is very important. I agree with everyone who is stressing this.

 

[QuestionGuy]

dont let them yet, make them feel important by leting them do pushups and something that doesnt involve weights, their bones are like little bendy sticks and you can damadge them esspecially at this early age

 

[DeadBolt]

I would say stick to the basics as everyone else has said. If they insist on doing everything you do give them light things just to go through the motion like light objects..maybe a small stick or something like that.

As for not growing strong bones...it sounds like that may make sense but muscles and the fibers are what produce strong bones. By you builing more muscle your bone structure becomes much more dense and able to accept mroe stress so in reality wouldn't them adding LBM be beneficial? Muscle is what keeps the bones strong so why not help em build some...its just like a kid playing games all day constantly running, climbing, and jumping. Those are just a from of polymetrics which would help them build muscles which in turn produces stronger bones.