Strength training for kids

oldbooh
oldbooh Posts: 15
edited October 5 in Fitness and Exercise
So my 10 yr old wants to go to the gym with me which I am completely going to encourage because I want her to grow up healthy. When she went through orientation this week they showed her cardio and free weights. She is so excited now about the free weights. The problem is that I've heard that young kids shouldn't lift weights since their bodies are still developing. The other problem is she has to be with me all the time so if I want to do free weights then she has to be in the same area as me.

Any suggestions? Is it true that she shouldn't lift weights? Any alternatives?

Replies

  • curiositycat
    curiositycat Posts: 111 Member
    I, too, have heard that weights aren't the best for kids because their growth plates are still developing and haven't yet closed. In fact, I started crew at at fourteen (lots of weights in that sport), and I was told that is the minimum age at which kids should start. Maybe she could start off with body-weight training for now? Or invest in a TRX suspension system to use at home?
  • summertime_girl
    summertime_girl Posts: 3,945 Member
    Our gym has a kids' gym within. Smaller treadmills, smaller ellipticals, smaller weights, etc. They also had trainers on staff that had a background in childhood fitness. The weights that the kids will use won't cause any problems at all to their bodies, unless she was to start training REALLY hard.

    My son was in child kids' gym until he turned 13, at which time he started training for powerlifting. He's 16 now, and lifts very heavy weights, which has been great for football for him. He did it gradually, with a trainer, and is incredibly strong for his age.

    My daughter is 6, and the weights the trainer has her use are between 1 -2 pounds.
  • frugalmomsrock
    frugalmomsrock Posts: 1,123
    When I spoke to our practitioner before letting my [then] 11 and 13 year old daughters join the gym, she said they absolutely could go for all the cardio their bodies could stand, that they could do very light strength training, but absolutely no heavy strength or weight lifting until they had been on their menses for a minimum of two years (the time they continue to grow) so not to damage the growth plates.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I've heard as long as they focus on a weight they can handle for high reps (12-15) and practice good form with an adult supervising, then it can be good for them.
    It seems a sensible way, as surely in their daily life they are picking up things and handling objects that are sometimes heavy. Just don't let them push themselves too much - body weight training would be good too.

    If you're worried, possibly talk to a member of staff at the gym, who is knowledgeable and better yet, has experience dealing with kids and weights (not someone who just works there)
  • coniconstance
    coniconstance Posts: 321 Member
    Our gym has a kids' gym within. Smaller treadmills, smaller ellipticals, smaller weights, etc. They also had trainers on staff that had a background in childhood fitness. The weights that the kids will use won't cause any problems at all to their bodies, unless she was to start training REALLY hard.
    OH I love this! What a great gym. I've been thinking of joining a gym but don't want to miss the time with my daughter in the evenings. If we could go together that would be fantastic. What a great post
  • Misiaxcore
    Misiaxcore Posts: 659 Member
    On my competitive swim team, you have to be at least 13 to do any weights.
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