Children Lifting Weights?
Replies
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Yep. THIS.All of the national professional organizations that are involved in this topic-- American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, American Academy of Pediatricians--have published position papers stating that resistance exercise can be both safe and effective for children.
The concerns about growth-plate fractures have been shown to be greatly overstated.
While younger children are not going to increase muscle mass, they can significantly increase strength.
There are several guidelines for children lifting weights:
1. Avoid maximal lifts, esp heavy overhead lifts--this is the one area that does carry a higher risk of injury.
2. Make sure the child is motivated and interested. Problems occur when children become fatigued or bored.
3. Emphasis should be on learning proper form--lifting sessions must be supervised by knowledgeable results.
4. Keep in mind that most children want to PLAY, they don't want to "exercise". Watching adults lift weights, it sometimes SEEMS like play until they actually start to do it and realize it takes work and discipline. Then, all of sudden, it's not so much furn anymore.
5. Related to #4: While physically, younger children CAN lift safely and effectively, my experience has been that few of them actually WANT to, once they have tried it for real. Our center made a concerted effort to attract younger children (and their families) by purchasing some equipment that was supposedly "child sized" and setting up a number of programs and classes. It has been a colossal flop and waste of money. I had kids come for circuit classes--they came 2 or 3 times, with their parents pushing them, and then disappeared. We had some marginal success with some of the other programs that were more "game" based, but for the most part the kids (7-10) just did not have the motivation, concentration, or physical skill to do even the most basic of exercises.
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I've introduced it to my 13-yo daughter. She is 5'6" tall weighs 125 lbs, and complains that she is fat because of her belly. I told her that she didn't need to diet. Instead, I bought her some light weights and showed her some exercises. She is already started firming up her abs and is much happier with her body.
My 9-yo daughter thinks she can do anything her sister can so she plays with my weights but I fuss at her and won't let her lift the heavy ones. I will let her play on the ball though which focuses on strengthening area using body weight. I just don't let the youngest do it because she would try to do too much and end up hurting herself.0 -
No, at his age you can do permanent damage to the growth plates in his bones. Encourage him to be active and built muscle through sports and other activities. Save the weight training for when he has finished growing.
^^^^ THIS
It's just not true. Again, rather than relying on random opinions, I would again refer everyone to the position papers published by the relevant professional organizations and physician group.0 -
I think the best thing i can say about that is go ask a doctors opinion cause for me it is good that in your son case he really needs to do exercises for health reason but we should know the preventive measures that is needed
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There are a couple of problems IMO. One, there is the expense of a doctor visit that is likely unnecessary. As I have mentioned a couple of times, there are clear guidelines on youth strength available. I think they are clear and simple enough to provide guidance to a parent without adding the expense of a doctor visit.
Two: especially since there is a good chance that the family doctor will not be familiar with these guidelines and will provide inaccurate information.
In the absence of an existing medical or physical condition, I think there is enough information available for parents to make their own decisions on this issue.0 -
5th grade... is he playing any sports?
My sons are a little bit younger and know I go to the gym and lift. After baseball and coming up to football season they wanted to do some workouts with me. I just focused on body weight things like different pushups contests, body weight squats and lunges too. Did a lot of different races, who can say no to bear crawls around the yard!0 -
My son is 11 and he is borderline overweight. I started taking him to my gym about one month ago. I take him three days per week. He does two exercises per body part and doesn't lift any weight that he can't get 10 reps out of for three sets. We are in the gym for about an hour and of that hour he's lifting weights about 30 minutes. The rest of the time he's on a treadmill running/walking for 20 minutes and about 10 minutes worth of sit ups (4 sets of 15). He enjoys the hell out of it. He's more confident and I enjoy teaching him. He will be in much better shape for hockey this year. The owner of the gym (who is a PT) gives us some instruction here and there on form, but I'm pretty well versed in proper lifting techniques myself. Bottom line: don't overdo it and teach proper form. I would never let him loose on his own.0
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My 10yr old son started weights early this year, he'll be 11 in Dec.. Dr approved, and dad or I have to always be with him to ensure he is doing things correctly and safely. He doesn't use a lot of weight, very low actually, I figure if nothing else it's teaching him a good habit. But it has helped with his shooting. He is in shooting sports with the local 4H and was having trouble even holding the gun up that long but now he can do it much longer without being so tired.
He's plenty active in other ways too, like baseball, biking, walking, playing regular ole sports with friends, etc.0 -
thats because docs are idiots. don't lift weight they say, but by all means, play football, soccer, and cheer which have 100x the injury rates. o.Ousually ortho doctors do not recommend lifting weights until around age 13 or after puberty for kids. He could do body weight exercises though. Show him pics of people with big muscles doing cool body weight movements. He would like that.
There is zero reason for a child to not lift. If he wants to, by all means, teach him.
I agree!! Start them out playing football, soccer, and hockey at 3-5 years old (cuz after all, they are all going to be in the NFL, NHL, or World Cup!) , but heaven forbid they lift any weights til after puberty... which my son is turning 15 next week and still isn't in the obvious signs of puberty yet. He does lift, with a coach, for football. However, he isn't lifting that much weight.
My son is a skinny little thing though. 5'2" and weighs 90 pounds.0 -
do u deny your children lots of things based on how you feel about something vs say evidence?? or just lifting?I'm not a doctor but as a mother of 2 boys it's not something I agree with. At least until they hit puberty.
I'm a parent and yes I deny my child a lot of things based on how I feel about it.
Kudo's and applause for actually being a parent!!! Thank you!!!!0 -
thats because docs are idiots. don't lift weight they say, but by all means, play football, soccer, and cheer which have 100x the injury rates. o.Ousually ortho doctors do not recommend lifting weights until around age 13 or after puberty for kids. He could do body weight exercises though. Show him pics of people with big muscles doing cool body weight movements. He would like that.
There is zero reason for a child to not lift. If he wants to, by all means, teach him.
MOST ortho's are completely against participating in those sports, because of the risk factors behind them (even though they help keep their practices running, hah). When I jumped horses competitively as a teenager, my ortho lectured my mother and I on the dangers after a pretty bad fall. He was really against the sport. I agree with you that lifting weights couldn't be any more harmful than participating in these other dangerous activities, though.
To the OP, just wait the 3 weeks until your son's next appointment. Especially since your son is a diabetic. Good luck and I hope he gets the answer he is looking for!0 -
at that early age, resistance training should just be his body weight. When he gets a bit older you can start him out with some resistance bands or something. weights aren't for kids.0
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Hi. I have a pre-teen son (he's in the 5th grade) who is diabetic and wants to lift weights. It's all he talks about...I guess my success with lifting has peaked his interest. As far as his diabetes goes, he would have to check his blood sugar after a workout and have an extra snack.
But putting that fact aside for the moment, how young is too young to start lifting weights? I've heard a lot of different things about what age kids should start. He's going to see his doctor in 3 weeks so I plan to ask him but I wondered if anyone here had pre-teen or teenage kids that lifted weights. For reference, he's ~ 4'9" and 80 lbs. He's kind of clumsy, all arms and legs so I would think that the weight lifting would help with that and his overall self-confidence too. TIA.
I talked to pedi about this when my son turned 8. The pedi said "sir, your son lifts books and things around the house, he can lift. Just no more than 10% of his body weight".0 -
Gets her water and snack and pulls up a chair as this debate begins once again.
Can I join you? :laugh:0 -
No, at his age you can do permanent damage to the growth plates in his bones. Encourage him to be active and built muscle through sports and other activities. Save the weight training for when he has finished growing.
Pretty sure that myth has been debunked.0 -
I wouldn't. Although you should see the kids (boys and girls) at my daughter's gym! They get that way from classic exercises - push ups, pull ups, etc. She is 8 and thought the cross trainers on TV were "weak, because they can only do 5 handstand push ups and they bend their legs"! :happy:0
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I actually stumbled across a video today of a 10year old girl competing powerlifting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5noObrJ4zC4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I honestly have no opinion a far a if it's safe cuz I have no clue. I just really thought it was cool too see someone so young lifting weights way heavier than she weighs!
And way heavier than she can. Her squat is just plain dangerous.0 -
I don`t get this reasoning. resistance is resistance. weather it`s weights, or everyday life. wtf difference does it make if it`s done with a piece of metal in a bar form, or a toybox, or roughhouseing with friends. so pulling a 45lbs barbell fro the floor is somehow bad for the child, yet carrying a 45lbs box of toys around is a-ok. am I getting this correct.at that early age, resistance training should just be his body weight. When he gets a bit older you can start him out with some resistance bands or something. weights aren't for kids.
This is the same rational I hear from women who insist that 5lbs is all a person needs to lift, yet do not see the hypocracy with picking up and playing with their 40lbs child...
there is nothing harmful about teaching resistance and form at any age. with my 4 year old he did his first deadlift a few weeks ago. I was a proud dad I have to say. and i will be more than happy to teach him proper technique for any lift he wants to do. should he want to play sports, his training from me will give him a huge edge over all other kids because he will be that much stronger and know how to use his body that much better.0 -
No, at his age you can do permanent damage to the growth plates in his bones. Encourage him to be active and built muscle through sports and other activities. Save the weight training for when he has finished growing.
This is a commonly held misconception.0 -
I WISH someone had introduced me to lifting when I was that age. It would have saved me countless hours of running trying to get faster and stronger for soccer. (And I like running- but nothing has ever been more effective for me than lifting weights has to get faster!) It probably would have saved me from some really stupid teenage fat-loss diet techniques, too.0
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I don`t get this reasoning. resistance is resistance. weather it`s weights, or everyday life. wtf difference does it make if it`s done with a piece of metal in a bar form, or a toybox, or roughhouseing with friends. so pulling a 45lbs barbell fro the floor is somehow bad for the child, yet carrying a 45lbs box of toys around is a-ok. am I getting this correct.at that early age, resistance training should just be his body weight. When he gets a bit older you can start him out with some resistance bands or something. weights aren't for kids.
This is the same rational I hear from women who insist that 5lbs is all a person needs to lift, yet do not see the hypocracy with picking up and playing with their 40lbs child...
there is nothing harmful about teaching resistance and form at any age. with my 4 year old he did his first deadlift a few weeks ago. I was a proud dad I have to say. and i will be more than happy to teach him proper technique for any lift he wants to do. should he want to play sports, his training from me will give him a huge edge over all other kids because he will be that much stronger and know how to use his body that much better.
Yup, really think about some of the things kids do.
- Swimming: pushing their body weight around.
- Baseball: How heavy are those bats relative to their size and strength
- Bowling: Obvious
- Riding a bike: Pushing their body weight plus the bike weight plus any incline resistance
- Carrying school books around school in their arms or in a back pack.
It's endless definitely something that should be on an episode of Mythbusters.
Sure all people are different, but I started doing some basic lifting when I was 13 and I'm fine physically and I'm 6'0 tall so that kind of busts the whole growth-plate thing.0 -
I have no idea about the weight lifting for children part - but just a mention on the diabetes side of things (I'm a type 1) I always find that after a weights session my blood sugars skyrocket and quite a few of my D friends find the same thing - of course check with his endo but if he does get the all clear to lift don't be suprised if he needs a bit more insulin with his next meal (or a correction if he's pumping).0
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Hi. I have a pre-teen son (he's in the 5th grade) who is diabetic and wants to lift weights. It's all he talks about...I guess my success with lifting has peaked his interest. As far as his diabetes goes, he would have to check his blood sugar after a workout and have an extra snack.
But putting that fact aside for the moment, how young is too young to start lifting weights? I've heard a lot of different things about what age kids should start. He's going to see his doctor in 3 weeks so I plan to ask him but I wondered if anyone here had pre-teen or teenage kids that lifted weights. For reference, he's ~ 4'9" and 80 lbs. He's kind of clumsy, all arms and legs so I would think that the weight lifting would help with that and his overall self-confidence too. TIA.
Have at 'er. My 12 year old is doing Stronglifts with me and we really enjoy the time together. I would suggest he works out with an adult and gets the form right. Agree with the confidence. Plus, he will be developing a good habit that will carry him through life.
The whole growth plate thing is nonsense. Bad form though is not.0 -
I have no idea about the weight lifting for children part - but just a mention on the diabetes side of things (I'm a type 1) I always find that after a weights session my blood sugars skyrocket and quite a few of my D friends find the same thing - of course check with his endo but if he does get the all clear to lift don't be suprised if he needs a bit more insulin with his next meal (or a correction if he's pumping).
How different would letting a diabetic child lift weights be than letting that same child play soccer, basketball, etc?0 -
I wasn't commenting on whether he should be lifting weights or not - as I said I have no experience or knowledge in the area. I'm well aware (as a diabetic who has always been very active) that diabetic children can do practically EVERYTHING non-diabetic children can do.
The OP mentioned that he might need an extra snack after lifting weights I just wanted to point out that sometimes if your body is placed under stress (which is the idea of lifting) your blood sugars can rise, just wanted to point it out - some diabetics get a bit worried if/when it happens.0 -
I wasn't commenting on whether he should be lifting weights or not - as I said I have no experience or knowledge in the area. I'm well aware (as a diabetic who has always been very active) that diabetic children can do practically EVERYTHING non-diabetic children can do.
The OP mentioned that he might need an extra snack after lifting weights I just wanted to point out that sometimes if your body is placed under stress (which is the idea of lifting) your blood sugars can rise, just wanted to point it out - some diabetics get a bit worried if/when it happens.
Yep, I'm well-aware of his blood sugar rising from activity, unfortunately, but thanks for reiterating that as it is an important point.
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My 5th grade son likes to train with me (or my husband) he thinks its cool. I focus more on body weight exercises for him than anything else. Its great bonding time!0
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