Is running, push ups and situps enough for the 6, 8, 10 and 12 year olds? Does your child lift weights? At what age should a child be allowed to lift free weights?

Do you think some or most are using weights or exercise machines? [img]http://counters.honesty.com/cgi-bin/hone...r=1&style=A[/img]

i wuld say let the kid stick with pushup sit ups ans all that, maybe some 5 pound free weights till there 12 then put them on a machine and when they get older and more mature they can go to free weights, it all really depends on the maturity of a kid if they are ready to lift or not

well all i kno is my lil brother is 12 and he is in olimpic weightlifting as well as wrestling, soccer, and football

In my opinion it is much more a matter of physical maturity than it is age. Lifting a significant amount of weight can be damaging to the growing body.

The NCEP Bronze book suggests that kids beginning at age 12 can begin lifting light weights. They encourage, focusing on technique, using broomsticks or bars alone.

There are other ways to add strength without adding weights too early. Doing decline pushups, doing incline situps, etc.

Randy,

I am going to have to check that Bronze book because I thought it actually said 10 to 12 years old depending on the kid.

This is a controversial topic but I believe that many responsible professional people both trainers and medical people are starting to advocate certain types of strength training with weights both to assist in preventing injuries and in improving strength for young kids. It is not for everyone and every kid is different as far as when they are physically and mentally ready to start a program. Some maybe would not be ready until they are in high school.

I actually started my son on a program when he turned 10. I tried doing the exercise program that Randy suggested with the pushups,etc. but my son did not like it. He loved doing the weight workout and has been doing it for three years. I researched it by buying a book on strength training for young athletes and consulting with a friend of mine who is a high school strength training coach.

Some of the keys I learned were that first you need to emphasize safety in your workout room and teach that to the child. Don't leave weights lying around and you do not play or run around in the workout area. That is important for siblings and spouses to know too. Second you do the exercises with proper form. If you do not have weightlifting experience, you should get them involved with an experienced coach. Third do not get them into the syndrome where they want to see how much they can bench press one time. My high school friend set me up on a program where on his heaviest lifting day we do not use any weight that he cannot do at least eight times in a repetition. From my research the way to avoid injury is to have them do lighter weights with more repetitions in contrast to a program where you just try to lift the maximum amount one or two times. One day my son does repetitions of eight-the heaviest weight day, one day he will do repetitions of 10 with slightly lighter weights and one day he will do a very light day with repetitions of 12. You always should have at least one rest day in between strength training sessions.

If anyone is interested in starting a program for their child, my advice is to research it and to go very slow at the start.

Both of my sons started lifting weights as early as 6 or 7 they are 16 and 13, I started with nothing more than a broom stick to teach tech. These things that say they shouldnt start so young is hog wash, as long as you are giving them the proper instruction and not pushing the weight there is NOTHING wrong with it, Boyd Eply a Nationaly recognized strength coach, who I even talked to about this subject had his own kids start at an early age, said that it can only benifit them if given the proper instruction. Both my sons have benifited greatly because of it, and neither has had their growth stunted or any of the other ol wives tales taht come from lifting to early.

There was an interesting article in the latest Feb 9 issue of Newsweek about this subject in their Periscope segment. Old conventional wisdom was pre-teen weight lifting could do harm to a child’s growth plates. Recently new studies have shown that when done in moderation anaerobic exercise can increase bone density and reduce the risk of diabetes. I think the key here is the word moderation. With young athletes there is a right and wrong way to train. I think it would be better to stress a high rep/moderate weight work out if you are going to add an anaerobic element to your young athletes training plan. The article goes on to say how the National School Fitness Foundation is beginning to place child-size weight machines in elementary schools.

Mark Stanley
Junior Viking Wrestling

If anyone is interested, this is the book that I have used and I think is a good one on this subject:

http://www.exrx.net/Store/HK/StrengthTrainingForYoungAt.html

You can be very resourcefull with lifting for younger athletes. Take canned foods and they can do curls with those...Make them carry sacks filled with a few groceries or something as well.

The YMCA in Olathe offers a "Junior Teens On Weights" course over four Saturdays. They focused on stretching proper use of the machines,and learning the major muscle groups. After taking the course in September, my son and I have been going once a week together. It is a good dad time as well as a confidence building for him.

Mark

I am a mother of 2 boys that wrestle (10 & 12). During the past year they have been on a very regimented and consistent weight lifting routine with their father. During the previous year, they worked out a little less frequently and a bit less structured. During each workout their father is with them supervising and instructing them. Until recently all of their weightlifting was done using primarily dumbells with none of the excersizes putting direct pressure on the spine. The logic behind using mainly dumbells was that it would help to force the boys to control the weight they were using while they learn the proper technique and speed for each exercise. They also do incline, decline and regular pushups with weights on their back for added difficulty along with pull-ups and rope climb. In my opinion this time with their father has been wonderful dad/son interaction time. The boys are eager (most of the time) to spend the time and energy in this area. We have seen an ENORMOUS difference in their strength and their confidence. Done correctly, I recommend this to anyone who has a child that is eager and the time to invest in it with them.

my 12 year old brother is lifting around 37.5-40 kilograms now(for his olimpic weightlifting group) and he only weighs round 100 lbs himself

I think before a kid begins a weight program they should first spend time doing pushups and situps. when they master those exercises and can do a high amount of reps I think that would be a good time to add the resistance of weights with adult supervision.My 10 yr old has been lifting once or twice a week since Nov. with pushups and situps in between.We started this program after 2 yrs of push ups and situps.