As A Parent, Are You Wondering Should Kids Lift Weights?
An interesting question was sent to me this morning from a lady in California. She explained she has a son who is undersized, according to the growth charts in her doctor’s office, and she wanted to help him get bigger by sending him to the gym. The child in question is only 11 years old, so her question, for safety’s sake, should kids lift weights?
The question of whether should kids lift weights or not can be answered several different ways. On one hand, it’s common sense that kids lift weights constantly when they’re playing outside. They are pulling themselves up into trees, pushing and pulling themselves around when playing with their friends, and so on. In that regard, sure, kids can lift weights. On the other hand, should kids lift weights in a gym setting? That’s another question altogether.
Working out while playing and having fun is fine, and aids in normal muscular growth as well as development. This is how we help build stronger bones, tendons, ligaments, as well as the muscles themselves. This is a natural thing for children to do. The question of should kids lift weights in a gym is a bit different. I’ve had children as young as 11 working out in my gym, albeit only under direct supervision of their parent(s). Liability aside, unless there are extenuating circumstances, I see no great reason a young child needs to be working out in a gym setting for no other reason than it can be dangerous, and whatever they’re looking to build, they can do during playtime, or at least a modified playtime, so to speak. If there are issues wherein the kid would need corrective or rehabilitative therapy, that’s one thing, but just for the sake of exercise, that’s another.
Should kids lift weights? Sure, once they’re a little older and have better coordination, as well as a better ability to use the weights in a productive, and non distracting way to the other gym members. If your kid is there at 11 years old, then so be it. If he or she gets there at age 16, that’s fine too. As a personal trainer in Austin for the past 20 plus years, I’ve trained kids as young as 10, and adults as old as 93. It’s all based upon the individual, like anything else in health and fitness… doing what’s right for you and not the masses.
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Andy
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