Kids CAN lift weights, they CAN do it properly and they SHOULD!!
It is incredible being part of a training facility that works with dozens of young athletes who participate in football, soccer, lacrosse, weight lifting, speed skating, baseball and beyond. As well as young children who may not participate in sports but whose parents want them to have the opportunity to grow up with strength, good posture, a healthy relationship with the gym and learning proper form correcting and supporting proper mechanics and preventing muscle imbalances with the added bonus of extra activity and time away from electronics!
We see children, from elementary school age up to high school age, not only perform these exercises, but enjoy it and progress in their abilities!
Take a look at this article written by ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer, Instructor and USA Weightlifting coach, Sara Fleming.
Sara says, “Teaching children to lift weight gives them an athletic skill, confidence, improved physical health, and it inspires them to be more active.”
Poor posture is due to a weak body, plain and simple. It is becoming more and more prevalent with the increase in time spent slouching on the couch playing video games and staring down at their mobile devices which causes them to slouch without even noticing what they’re doing. As well, with the rise in overall screen time comes the decline of active play. Kids just do not go outside anymore! Going out and riding bikes “for fun” is foreign to children and not their first idea of “fun” anymore. Sad but true….
Your children CAN stay ahead of this, they can begin now and strengthen their bodies! It is still important even if they aren’t athletes looking to improve their performance!
There are so many positive benefits! In the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, they cite such benefits as:
An improvement in cardiovascular fitness and body composition
Stimulation in bone mineralization and improvement in bone mineral density
Strengthened connective tissue
Improvement in blood lipid profiles
Improvement in mental health and self-confidence
Recent studies have shown some benefit to increased strength, overall function, and mental well-being in children with cerebral palsy.
Rehabilitation can help prevent injuries, particularly the shoulders and knees.
It is important to understand that children are not the same as adults and should not be treated as such in the weight room. The number one priority should always be safety. As well, they should be trained under the supervision of skilled professionals who specialize and have a deep understanding of the child and adolescent population. Many, if not all, fitness certifying programs offer specialized studies and certifications for this.
Check out Sara’s article to find a list of special guidelines anyone working directly with your child should be following.
*The resources and links listed are only suggested as sources for further exploration. They do not necessarily imply endorsement.
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