what age for children to start weight training?

neandermagnon
neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
in Chit-Chat
My 6 year old is very eager to start weight training with real dumbbells and barbells (she has toy dumbbells already). I think six seems too young, especially as it's so important to get the form right. But I'd like to get information and experience from knowledgable people about what age is appropriate for starting to lift.

I know that kids can do weight training and weight lifting from quite a young age, younger than you'd think, but what are the various issues and limitations?

This would be purely for fitness and strength, and because my daughter's quite keen to start. I'm not even mentioning looks or body composition in relation to weight lifting, because there's so much pressure these days, especially on girls, to look a certain way, I don't want to add to that in any way. I just want her to enjoy exercise for its own sake and aspire to be fit, strong and healthy.

thoughts?
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Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,231 Member
    3053-kids-weight-lifting.jpg

    you too could have an 8 year old like this!
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    I'm no expert but I think its too young - I think about those Romanian gymnasts in the 1970s, and how early they trained very hard and the issues its left them with. I know music teachers don't recommend brass instruments below a certain age because lungs are not sufficiently developed, so I would expect that to apply to all strenuous activities.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I've been told 8 is the youngest, but my friend who is a trainer said that as long as they start very light and focus on proper form before adding any weight. My son has been lifting some since he was 5. He also likes using resistance bands and doing body weight exercises. I walked in on him doing one arm pushups in our garage once. I suggest that you stick with only dumbbells for a while though. Barbells are pretty heavy. They can bench with dumbbells.
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    id advise just getting her into lots of sport and build up muscle through like own body weight and cardio
  • JustCallMe_Tanya_Eh
    JustCallMe_Tanya_Eh Posts: 954 Member
    id advise just getting her into lots of sport and build up muscle through like own body weight and cardio

    This
  • inkmonster
    inkmonster Posts: 36
    if she wants to let her. can also show her other forms of muscly training like gymnastics or rock climbing ect which might be a little more fun for her. maybe she just wants to be like u.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I remember the YMCA back in my home town had an age limit of 13 years old. But, you had to go through a 2 weeks course first. The trainers would teach you about how your muscles work and how exercise helps your body and keeps you healthy. And then you would get a card that said you passed the class and the trainers would then take you into the weight room and you could work out with the machines. Your parents had to be working out along side you and you always had to keep that card on you in order to use them. When you turned 16 you could take a different class that taught you about the free weights.
  • Spartan_Maker
    Spartan_Maker Posts: 683 Member
    This is purely anecdotal, but I occasionally train my nephew and he's 7. I started him at 6. He's a monster, though, in the 97th percentile in height and weight. He's as big as most 10 and 11 years olds.

    He deadlifts his body weight, which I think is pretty good. He wants to try more, but I can't bring myself to allow it, for fear that his form will break down and something will go wrong.

    I think if you teach your daughter proper form and start her with light weights, carefully assessing her skill level and performance, it should turn out well.

    Additionally or alternatively, you could teach her to become really proficient at body weight exercises. Children and adults can become really fit doing push-ups, pull-ups, body weight squats etc. You could train her in the 7 primal movements.
  • Chadomaniac
    Chadomaniac Posts: 1,785 Member
    i say 18

    But i started at 15
  • jennfranklin
    jennfranklin Posts: 434 Member
    I would say no heavy lifting..have her do calistenics which will train and/or prepare the muscles to weight lift. Also cardio is great for kids. Kids are made for motion! I wouldn't weight train until probably around 11 or 12! But you could also get her doctors advice on this. But I would say definitely go ahead with the calisthenics and cardio.
  • Unknown
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  • MelJolly
    MelJolly Posts: 49 Member
    My daughter is 13 and doing CrossFit with me, which involves weights in many ways. She is absolutely loving it, and it shows! In my opinion, if she is showing interest, absolutely encourage and teach her. As she learns, she will know her limits. I just think it's important to not push higher weights on her, but to let her move at her pace. You already demonstrate the love and concern for her that says that you'll be watching her closely and keeping her safe. :)
  • LisaMfit4life
    LisaMfit4life Posts: 567 Member
    I think that that is too young. Children are still developing at that age. I would recommend asking your pediatrician/physician before starting your child on any weight bearing program. I believe children should be active but there are other activities a child can participate in.
    Lisa
  • casi_ann
    casi_ann Posts: 423 Member
    Have you asked her pediatrician. He will be the best person to ask.
  • WTF7
    WTF7 Posts: 140 Member
    Ask her Peditrician ...
  • MM_1982
    MM_1982 Posts: 374
    I started working out around 14. I started basic supplementation around 16 (protein shakes, creatine, Glutamine, etc).

    If you play high school football, it's expected that you learn the basics of powerlifting (squats, deadlifts, bench, cleans) while you're in 9th or 10th grade.

    Even if you aren't into sports, I think high school is a good time to start.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    My daughter is in jiujitsu and kickboxing, and the instructor sometimes has them work with kettle bells. The max he will let her use is a 5 pound bell, but usually she uses a teeny 3-pound pink one. The rule of the group is that kids can't do anything heavy until they're 10 or 11. She gets most of her strength from bodyweight exercises and boxing.

    Honestly, all we care about is that she's having fun.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    My oldest is 6, almost 7. I don't think he is coordinated enough yet to handle anything really big. Some of his friends probably are. I mostly let him do bodyweight exercises to build strength and coordination, and for now, anything over 5 pounds on a dumbbell he can't control form, so I won't let him try anything more than that. Kids at this age have a very wide range of abilities when it comes to fine and large motor skills. If you think she can handle starting and she has pretty good coordination, start it light, make sure she has good form, and make it absolutely clear to her that she touches nothing without you there. Either she will stay interested or she'll want to do something more group oriented with her friends.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Check this out:

    http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/phys-ed-the-benefits-of-weight-training-for-kids/
  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    Children below the age of 12 should never use weights. Only exercises using their body weight should be done.
  • _Wonder_Woman_
    _Wonder_Woman_ Posts: 218
    Lifting at that age is way too young. Get them moving, let them run around, play sports, help around the house instead.

    My kids have always been in sports. Daughter in cheer, which is pretty demanding. My son in Football, baseball & basketball.

    My son is now 14 and 6'3. He's still in baseball, at this point he does lift weights.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    That age is too young to use added weights. Have her do body-weight exercise. My son has crazy arms at 7 years old.. all from lifting himself (push ups, literally, just lifting himself up onto things..) he can scale fences and climb trees without worrying because of his strength.
    He does TKD, so he does a lot of strength moves and cardio. He's 7, JUST hit 60lbs and is in great shape!!

    **Edit - adding him in.. haha he loves looking at himself lol his arm looks fake to me!
    383330_10151157188748684_1526265221_n_zpsb095367c.jpg
  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    I'd say 16+ because I've heard that it can stunt growth in young'uns. Not sure how true it is, though.
  • milf_n_cookies
    milf_n_cookies Posts: 2,244 Member
    My 10 year old triplets do bodyweight exercises with me every other day (squats, hip extensions, burpees, mountain climbers etc) but I don't let them use weights other then the occasional kettle bell swing or weighted crunch ups. They have done a mini-Strongman Sunday with me, and done weighted runs, swung light sledge hammers and chucked sandbags (they also rolled a Honda across a parking lot, but we helped them to get it started LOL).
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    When they are ready and they want to.
  • aj_31
    aj_31 Posts: 994 Member
    I think it's great that kids as young as 6 yrs old want to be fit and healthy but lifting weights at that age is way too young. Whatever happened to sports, riding bikes, or playing with friends outside to stay in shape? I know at a lot of gyms offer kids yoga or cardio and things like that and I think that's a great way to introduce fitness but I think lifting is going to far with it. I really don't think kids should be lifting until they are in their early to mid teens. I think using body weight and doing push ups, sit ups, and things like that is all they need.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    id advise just getting her into lots of sport and build up muscle through like own body weight and cardio

    ^^^THIS^^^ Because a child's bones are still actively growing, you risk damage to her musculo-skeletal system by piling on the weights too soon. Anthropologists have examined damage to what is assumed to be the skeletons of child slaves that they dug up. They note that this type of damage is done to the bones of children who are forced to lift heavy weights (while working). A girl's skeleton and skeletal muscle are more or less complete by the age of 11-12 (a boy's can take quite a bit longer). That is the earliest I would start weight-lifting were it my child. You could probably give her some one-pounders to make her feel like she is doing something but, at her age, some kind of active sport is much more beneficial for a variety of reasons.
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    I'd say talk to your pediatrician and/or a doctor in sports med. There are particular issues to consider like natural growth and development, hormone variations etc. Talk to someone who knows those effects/risks specific to children.
  • rushikareddy
    rushikareddy Posts: 604 Member
    My 6 year old is very eager to start weight training with real dumbbells and barbells (she has toy dumbbells already). I think six seems too young, especially as it's so important to get the form right. But I'd like to get information and experience from knowledgable people about what age is appropriate for starting to lift.

    I know that kids can do weight training and weight lifting from quite a young age, younger than you'd think, but what are the various issues and limitations?

    This would be purely for fitness and strength, and because my daughter's quite keen to start. I'm not even mentioning looks or body composition in relation to weight lifting, because there's so much pressure these days, especially on girls, to look a certain way, I don't want to add to that in any way. I just want her to enjoy exercise for its own sake and aspire to be fit, strong and healthy.

    thoughts?
    I cannot give a definite answer but I think you should consult their doctor! My brother was a competitive swimmer as a kid and was advised against doing weight training and said it affected growth somehow ( this was told by his trainer and not a doctor)! My advice would be to talk to one! :)
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Any kid who wants to exercise, I say let them. It would be really great if she got in a little cardio. Kids at this age often want to be like their parents, and later on it will be other kids. She doesn't have to be anything in terms of body type; she needs to have fun.

    If it was my kid, I would keep talk of training and all that out of the discussion. Just let her use the weights and teach proper from. That's all.

    I would add, I hope you are being the same example when it comes to food at the table.

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