Can Children Lift Weights?

Getting kids in shape is a totally different ball game than allowing them to overstep their fitness boundaries too soon. With parents becoming even more competitive with their kids and with which sports they are involved in it is no surprise to hear that many parents are permitting their children to lift weights when they are simply too young.

Weight lifting may sound barbaric to some mothers and even fathers of young children, but believe it or not there are quite a few parents that permit their children to engage in lifting. Some parents feel it will increase their performance in any sports they are active in and it will also add to their size which is a benefit for those in contact sports such as basketball and football. The bigger the child is the less they will be injured in a face off situation and they can play more defensive positions as well. However, it is not always safe to allow your children to begin weight lifting before their bodies are fully developed.

Weight lifting for kids should not truly begin until hey are in high school. There are some modifications you can make to get your child involved in this type of routine to add bulk and strength to their frames. For example, you can allow your child to lift gallons of water instead of weights, it may seem very elementary but that is getting back to basics and keeping it simple for the kids. A child does not need to be concerned going to a health club or lifting heavy amounts of weight as they should start off with very little weights and do more repetitions of the exercises. When the child becomes more adapt to the gallon jugs, you can remove the water and place other items inside the containers to make them gradually heavier such as oil, paper clips or even small rocks. They can use the containers to do lunges, curls, front arm raises and calf raises. For an adult this would never be enough weight to provide any real results, but for a child with a developing body this could build muscles for a fit frame for a lifetime.

Children are not to lift weights until they are in high school or at the very least fifteen yeas of age. Some experts believe they should be at least sixteen or seventeen but this will be up to the parent to decide. Think of all the other exercises your child can participate in for additional fitness road work such as push ups, sit ups, squats and running. Jump roping for any child is a fantastic calorie burner and they enjoy doing it. If your son or daughter is involved in any sports, inquire with their coaches or any additional tips or drills they could be focusing on at home and during the off season. Provide your child with a healthy diet to further increase their healthy growing bodies and encourage them to get lots of sleep.

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Children and Weight Lifting - Important Things You May Not Know

Introducing your child to sports at an early age is one way of leading him to healthy lifestyle habits. Lifting weights or strength training is one of the many exercises that have been proven beneficial even to children. Weightlifting for children helps grow their muscles promoting stronger bones. The metabolism of the body is increased as its cholesterol level goes down. If your child is already into sports, this exercise can make him gain more endurance and at the same time develop tougher muscles which can prevent joint and muscles injuries. Other than these physical benefits, your child will also get a boost in his or her self esteem.

Do not confuse weightlifting for children with power lifting or body building. While lifting of weights or weight training is beneficial to children, the latter can be very dangerous. Power lifting puts excessive strain on the muscles, joints, cartilages and tendons of your child's very fragile body and puts him at risk for major injuries. These dangers are aggravated when your child is not well- acquainted with the proper lifting techniques and procedures in weight training. More muscles will be damaged and irreparable injuries will be sustained. It is essential that you explain to your child the concept of strength training and power lifting. Put added emphasis on safety and the realistic goal of simply improving his muscle strength rather competing with other power lifters. Giving him the impression that he is going to be the next muscle man of the world compels him to over shoot his marks.

The ideal age or this activity is around 8 or 9 years old. By this time many children can already grasp the concept of strength training and integrate it in their own lifestyle. Exposing your child at a younger age, especially when cannot yet get a strong grasp of the whole concept of strength training, makes them prone to injuries.

In order to prevent injuries make sure that your child has a good understanding of the activity. Hire a coach if you cannot supervise him yourself or if you feel that you do not have sufficient knowledge about it. Check with your child's doctor before undertaking the strength program especially if you suspect that your child has certain heart condition such as juvenile hypertension.

The amount of weight is dependent on your child's body strength. Never overwork your child. A good way of determining the ideal weight for your child to work on is to make him choose a weight that he or she can lift 8 to 15 times. If that is not possible for him to do then that means that the weight is too heavy for your child and you should find a lighter load. Weightlifting for children should never be rushed. Start with a light weight. There should be no problem about starting at a very light weight since this can be increased over time when your child has already increased muscle strength. Consult a trained professional when you are in doubt.

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