Strength Training for Children

First of all, does he WANT to strength train or is this something you have chosen for him?

Sounds like you are projecting your regrets onto him.

If he is active, he will bulk up anyway.
No need to rush it.
I have been a sports instructor trainer for 20 years and I refuse to teach kids my sport (scuba diving) until they hit 14. Then their skeletal structure is significantly stronger and close to being formed completely, and can then deal with the rigours of lifting weight. (tanks and weights will put on up to 60lbs/30kgs a time)

Leave him be. Work his lungs and heart, and he will enjoy that as much.

^ This.

Kids as young as 7 or 8 years old can usually do strength-training activities such as push-ups and sit-ups as long as they show some interest, can perform the exercises safely, and follow instructions.

Oh my. This thread has been officially hijacked.

[irony]

Yes, I'm a terrible dad who is forcing his kid to lift weights to relive my own, lost childhood. Thanks...

[/irony]

As to the helpful comment of waiting until he's 14, is that based on any research? It makes perfect sense, but it would be nice to have some data behind that... Also, it doesn't have to be barbell training, obviously. Even body weight exercises can be beneficial, perhaps preferable, even at 10. Or not?

I remember reading a study some time back that strength training at a young age is incredibly helpful, with long term health benefits. But can't seem to recall if 10 is too young or not.

Thanks again,

--P

I think this has more to do with the fact that in your post, you spend more time pointing out what you didn't get to do when you were younger vs what your son actually want to do.

the 14 year cuttoff is utterly false. edit: tho i will concede the point on 14 being fine for carrying tons of scuba gear. I dunno about that., I'm just talking weight training.

there is no such thing as too young. Hell, the younger the better. A kid whos able to be stronger and use his body more proficiently will perform sports better and safer. The idea that a kid is too young to lift weights is garbage. Why is weights bad, but football smashing into each other ok? Is the resistance kids face from that somehow different from the resistance of pushing iron thru gravity? (hint, it's not). Proper form, proper template = sports success.

Just make sure it's something he wants to do.

my 5 yr old girl and 7 year old son love working out with me doing body weight circuits.. mr 7 also loves to lift weights.. though the heaviest i will let him lift is 10kg, but he loves doing pushups and pullups as well. Miss 5 loves burpees. My 12 year old girl also works out with me on occasion though not as often as she said she wanted to lol, i guess the novelty wore off. I dont push my kids to do so, I let them make their own decision but they see me doing it and they want to join in. Before i let them do anything I make sure their form is good and then i watch them and make sure they keep doing it properly, once they've had enough we stop.

They dont work out with me all the time but when they want to I take the time to make sure they do it properly and have fun as well. If they grow up with a healthy attitude to exercise I'll be happy.

Have you talked about this with your son? If he wants to do it then I don't see why you shouldn't get into strength training for him. If hockey is important to him and he wants to get better and you know this will help then tell him and ask his opinion about what he wants to do.

you realize that when he's doing pushups, he's pushing more than 10kg right? resistance is resistance. wether from body weight or iron. the body doesn't know the difference.

my 5 yr old girl and 7 year old son love working out with me doing body weight circuits.. mr 7 also loves to lift weights.. though the heaviest i will let him lift is 10kg, but he loves doing pushups and pullups as well. Miss 5 loves burpees. My 12 year old girl also works out with me on occasion though not as often as she said she wanted to lol, i guess the novelty wore off. I dont push my kids to do so, I let them make their own decision but they see me doing it and they want to join in. Before i let them do anything I make sure their form is good and then i watch them and make sure they keep doing it properly, once they've had enough we stop.

They dont work out with me all the time but when they want to I take the time to make sure they do it properly and have fun as well. If they grow up with a healthy attitude to exercise I'll be happy.

Have you talked about this with your son? If he wants to do it then I don't see why you shouldn't get into strength training for him. If hockey is important to him and he wants to get better and you know this will help then tell him and ask his opinion about what he wants to do.

you realize that when he's doing pushups, he's pushing more than 10kg right? resistance is resistance. wether from body weight or iron. the body doesn't know the difference.

yeah I know this, but I am new to weights myself and as I learn then i can teach him. I prefer to let him do more with body weight exercises until I am more sure of what I get him to do with free weights when he wants to do them

My son is also 10. On the very skinny side for his age, but muscular and extremely active. I found a Junior Certification class at my gym and he is currently finishing up the class. It helped him not only learn how to use the machines in the gym but also taught him about his body and its growth and how to make it stronger safely. Better information than I could have provided with my research. He is excited about being able to use the machines, and now we are signed up for a Mud Race in November to supplement his desire to remain strong AND healthy. My daughter went through the same program when she was 10 (just turned 12) and now absolutely loves weight lifting and puts a lot of young men in there to shame :laugh:

I totally get where you're coming from, Prahasaurus, regarding how you were as a child. Genes are a HUGE factor, and you obviously recognise your genes coming through loud and clear with your son. Good on you for seeing his abilities, and wanting to educate him in the things you have learned about your body throughout your life. This is good parenting, and certainly is the way that we all progress and improve on what OUR parents did - I think we are coming a long way, and am glad for the foundation that our parents gave us. We are able to build on it so much more because of the information that we have available to us, and the time that we are willing to give to our lifestyles.

Sorry for the ramble, just really wanted to make note of the fact that your question comes from a very positive and pro-active place for your son. You are open-minded and self-aware enough to know you don't have all the answers, and good on you for asking. Shame on those who have been so critical - others are reading this thread and if they are timid, your responses may result in them being too fearful of this type of response to ask genuine questions.

My now 3 year old daughter has a life-limiting illness, and we are completely unsure how long we are going to have to spend with her. We are now almost a month past the 12 month prognosis we originally received with her (she was 2 when she was diagnosed), and while she is kicking goals and confounding the normal expectations, we don't honestly know if she will be here in one year, or make it to 21 and beyond. For this reason, we really look at where we put our energies.

I am a full-time carer (can't leave our Angel with anyone, ever), whose only respite comes from exercise. This means my kids join in. I have a whole heap of "-ists", who have encouraged me to include my kids in exercise - metabolic geneticist, neurologist, occupational therapist, physio, speech therapist, paediatric team. They all know my kids, my family, my lifestyle, and have given a very firm AOK for this type of activity. We are a family who have come through a year of crazy stress.

So, my 8 year old daughter is getting involved in my workouts, and her cardio and strength has improved beyond belief. This is not a conscious thing that I have encouraged, it has been something she is genuinely keen to join in with - she doesn't lift weights, but uses her body weight. The little dynamo can now plank for 90 secs at a time (normal, on her back, side - you name it), and while she doesn't do heaps of pushups at one time, her technique is perfect, and she can maintain 10 on her toes with good form. Her own personal goal - she's competing with herself, and keen to improve each month.

She rides her bike to school while I run with Angel in the pram, and is training to compete in a kids triathlon in November - I'll be doing the adult version, which is also not full-sized.

I am so proud of her, and have seen an improvement in her moods (yes, girls have moods!!) and her willingness to co-operate around the home. Her attitude is completely positive, and her little sister is enjoying playing in and around us. I have exposed both of them to some incredibly positive experiences, and we all get to share them together. Can't tell you how great I think that this type of exercise is for kids. I workout every day, and my girl does everything right alongside of me, on a smaller level - squats, lunges, pushups, planks, abs, step ups, towel pulls, tricep dips. Anything and everything.

I say go for it. Expose him to whatever he seems interested in. His body weight is enough at the moment. This is both my personal opinion, based on observation over the past 3 months, as well as professional advice sought from a very lofty team of paediatric specialists. They deal with so many disabilities and diseases, and are firm advocates of exercise.

Sorry for the book - this is something I feel strongly about. Thus the soapbox. We should be encouraging each other to get our kids active! I could make lots of personal observations about the nay-sayers and what their relationships with their kids are like, but that would be ignorant. I don't know them, and I don't know you, either. What I DO see, is that you are giving your son heaps of exposure to many sports so that he can taste a huge variety of things before deciding on the one - or many - that he is passionate about. And now you want to help him to make sure his body is all it can be. That is so great!!!

Well done - best of luck. I would be very interested to hear how you go - please post a new thread or blog to let us know!!

Wil

My son's best friend is a gymnast and is in the top ten of his sport in the country and he does workouts, he's only 9 by the way. He is literally pure muscle.

my 5 yr old girl and 7 year old son love working out with me doing body weight circuits.. mr 7 also loves to lift weights.. though the heaviest i will let him lift is 10kg, but he loves doing pushups and pullups as well. Miss 5 loves burpees. My 12 year old girl also works out with me on occasion though not as often as she said she wanted to lol, i guess the novelty wore off. I dont push my kids to do so, I let them make their own decision but they see me doing it and they want to join in. Before i let them do anything I make sure their form is good and then i watch them and make sure they keep doing it properly, once they've had enough we stop.

They dont work out with me all the time but when they want to I take the time to make sure they do it properly and have fun as well. If they grow up with a healthy attitude to exercise I'll be happy.

Have you talked about this with your son? If he wants to do it then I don't see why you shouldn't get into strength training for him. If hockey is important to him and he wants to get better and you know this will help then tell him and ask his opinion about what he wants to do.

you realize that when he's doing pushups, he's pushing more than 10kg right? resistance is resistance. wether from body weight or iron. the body doesn't know the difference.

I disagree. How the body handles its own weight is totally different to how it handles a weight it is carrying.
While there is danger in all exercises there are more instances of people injuring themselves doing bench press vs push ups despite the pressed weight being less than their body weight. You should always be cautious with weights especially when children are involved. That said my 15 year old daughter is doing the strong lifts program. Weights are great...use with caution