Does Lifting Weights Stunt Progress in Children? What Dad and mom Must Know

Just a few weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my residence health club with my 3-year-old toddler subsequent to me, copying me together with his personal little barbell. It was a type of candy moments I can’t assist however share—I simply love these bonding moments.

Quickly after, a father or mother messaged me: “Is that truly protected? I’ve at all times heard that weight coaching can stunt a toddler’s development.”

And you realize what? It’s a sound concern.

As a result of as mother and father, we wish our children to be energetic and wholesome—however we additionally need them to be protected.

So let’s speak about that concern. The place it comes from, what the science really says, and what to look out for with regards to resistance coaching for kids.

The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Progress” Delusion Come From?

If you happen to grew up listening to that lifting weights too early might “injury your bones” or “make you shorter,” you’re not alone. That perception has been round for some time.

However the place did it really come from?

A part of it’s linked to the worry of injuring one thing referred to as the development plates—areas of growing cartilage close to the ends of youngsters’s bones, the place bone development occurs. So naturally, the thought of loading weight onto a rising skeleton raised issues.

Then there’s the picture of many Olympic weightlifters: quick, highly effective athletes who elevate huge hundreds. It’s straightforward to imagine the game made them that method—however that’s not what occurred.

They’re quick as a result of that physique kind provides them a mechanical benefit within the sport. Not as a result of lifting stunted their development.

Enjoyable reality: The all-time world document holder in snatch and clear and jerk, Lasha Talakhadze, is a towering 6 ft 6 inches tall (197 cm).

The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what really causes development points.

What the Science Truly Says About Energy Coaching and Progress

Let’s begin with the large one: No, lifting weights doesn’t stunt a toddler’s development.

In truth, when carried out correctly, resistance coaching has no adverse impact on bone growth. Quite the opposite, it could possibly really improve bone density, coordination, and assist forestall damage.

Particularly as your little one will get older, combining resistance coaching with different sports activities can cut back their threat of damage.

Right here’s what the analysis reveals:

• A assessment printed in Pediatrics concluded there may be no proof that youth resistance coaching negatively impacts development plates or linear development.

• The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) states that youth energy coaching applications, when correctly supervised, are protected and useful.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics helps energy coaching for kids, so long as the main target is on approach and never maximal weights.

• A research within the Journal of Energy and Conditioning Analysis discovered that damage charges in youth weight coaching are considerably decrease than in lots of widespread sports activities.

How Protected Is Youth Weight Coaching, Actually?

Let’s check out damage charges per 1,000 hours of participation throughout totally different sports activities:

Seems, resistance training is among the most secure bodily actions your little one can do—when carried out proper.

When Weight Coaching Can Be a Concern for Children

So now that we’ve busted the parable, let’s speak about when weight coaching really can be dangerous for teenagers.

Like something, it depends upon the way it’s carried out.

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Children elevate weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their kind or approach

• They’re pushed to elevate too heavy, too quickly

• Tools isn’t suited to their dimension

• There’s no development or satisfactory restoration

However let’s be sincere—that’s not simply true for teenagers. That’s how adults get injured too. It appears lifting weights safely isn’t about age—it’s about how we practice.

Find out how to Make Energy Coaching Protected for Children

Right here’s learn how to maintain it protected, good, and useful:

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in energy coaching methods and progressions
✅ Give attention to approach—not the quantity of weight
✅ Age-appropriate programming with correct relaxation
✅ Tools that matches their physique
✅ Hold it enjoyable, skill-based, and fascinating—particularly for youthful youngsters

When these issues are in place, lifting weights turns into not simply protected—it turns into a basis for future motion expertise and lifelong physique consciousness.

Why This Issues So A lot for Dad and mom

As a result of all of us need our children to be robust, energetic, and assured. However we additionally wish to shield them.

As a substitute of avoiding energy coaching or creating worry round it, let’s educate them to do it proper.

As a result of when it’s carried out proper, energy coaching doesn’t simply construct muscle. It builds resilience, confidence, and lifelong wholesome habits.

And that’s one thing price lifting for. Wouldn’t you agree? —Marlene

References:

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/6/e20201011/76942/Resistance-Training-for-Children-and-Adolescents

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483033/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3418954/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0949328X20301903

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5538a1.htm