Kids and lifting weights

hesn92
hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone know of some good resources relating to kids and weight lifting? I’ve googled some but I’m still not that comfortable. I am in the process of putting together my home gym, and my 10 year old son really wants to lift weights but I’m pretty uncomfortable with that as I don’t want him to get injured. So far I just have a barbell with weights and a bench with a rack for doing bench press. I plan on getting adjustable dumbbells as well and my husband is going to build me a squat rack. TIA.

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/strength-training/art-20047758

    I started when I was about 10 primarily with body weight and started dabbling with weights when I was 13. I didn't get into serious lifting for mass and much more aggressive strength gains until high school when I started playing football.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I hold my son to bodyweight until he hits 13-14. There are a number of developmental reasons to limit progressive weight lifting to adolescence.

    My 10 yr old son and 8 yr old daughter do martial arts, rock climbing, calisthenics, and very limited dumbbell work, but I hold the bar weight until they have the foundational skills required for lifting. I started with Starting Strength - Mark Rippetoe and work from there.
  • Metalman224
    Metalman224 Posts: 26 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    I hold my son to bodyweight until he hits 13-14. There are a number of developmental reasons to limit progressive weight lifting to adolescence.

    My 10 yr old son and 8 yr old daughter do martial arts, rock climbing, calisthenics, and very limited dumbbell work, but I hold the bar weight until they have the foundational skills required for lifting. I started with Starting Strength - Mark Rippetoe and work from there.
    ^^^
    Strong Bump
    Weights should not be considered at all for children. Body weight is fine.
    But until a person's bones are fused (about 21-23 for males) weightlifting is a big no no. It can cause stunted growth and development issues ie. tendon and ligament issues. In extreme cases osteoporosis is a possibility.
    Only once the body is completely developed and there is the matured skeletal structure to support the forced that it will be subjected to should weights be considered.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited June 2018
    Metalman224 wrote: »
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    I hold my son to bodyweight until he hits 13-14. There are a number of developmental reasons to limit progressive weight lifting to adolescence.

    My 10 yr old son and 8 yr old daughter do martial arts, rock climbing, calisthenics, and very limited dumbbell work, but I hold the bar weight until they have the foundational skills required for lifting. I started with Starting Strength - Mark Rippetoe and work from there.
    ^^^
    Strong Bump
    Weights should not be considered at all for children. Body weight is fine.
    But until a person's bones are fused (about 21-23 for males) weightlifting is a big no no. It can cause stunted growth and development issues ie. tendon and ligament issues. In extreme cases osteoporosis is a possibility.
    Only once the body is completely developed and there is the matured skeletal structure to support the forced that it will be subjected to should weights be considered.

    No. This is wrong. And silly. Millions of people who grew up on farms would agree.
  • Laces918
    Laces918 Posts: 36 Member
    Body weight if you send me a message if you want more detailed info
  • mrslynda
    mrslynda Posts: 50 Member
    Hi, my eldest girl is almost 12. I am hoping to start her with some weights after she gets over the cold she has. From reading it's a good age for girls to start. My reasons for wanting her to lift are..... she has low upper body strength compared to girls her age, she is developing well, and complains her back gets sore (even with good underwear) , she is Autistic and a lot of Autistic people have said they enjoy solo sports where they are competing against themselves. So I want to see if she enjoys it as well.

    From what I have read, starting light and working on form is really important. Making sure they don't try and lift too much too quickly. As a side note, my 7 year old niece is getting over a badly broken elbow (monkey bar fall) . My parents took her for her check up and the paediatric physical therapist as prescribed strength work. Just hanging off the bars and lifting cans to get the muscles working.

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