Does Lifting Weights Stunt Progress in Children? What Mother and father Have to Know

A number of weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my house gymnasium with my 3-year-old toddler subsequent to me, copying me along with his personal little barbell. It was a kind 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 all the time heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s development.”

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

As a result of as dad and mom, we wish our youngsters to be lively 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 truly says, and what to look out for relating to resistance coaching for kids.

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

In the event you 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 truly come from?

A part of it’s linked to the worry of injuring one thing known as the development plates—areas of creating cartilage close to the ends of kids’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 carry huge masses. It’s straightforward to imagine the game made them that approach—however that’s not what occurred.

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

Enjoyable truth: The all-time world file 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The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what truly causes development points.

What the Science Really Says About Power Coaching and Progress

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

The truth is, when accomplished correctly, resistance coaching has no damaging impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it could actually truly improve bone density, coordination, and assist stop harm.

Particularly as your baby will get older, combining resistance coaching with different sports activities can cut back their danger of harm.

Right here’s what the analysis exhibits:

• A evaluation printed in Pediatrics concluded there’s no proof that youth resistance coaching negatively impacts development plates or linear development.

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

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

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

How Secure Is Youth Weight Coaching, Actually?

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

Seems, resistance training is likely one of the most secure bodily actions your baby can do—when accomplished 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 truly can be dangerous for youths.

Like something, it is determined by the way it’s accomplished.

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Children carry weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their type or approach

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

• Gear isn’t suited to their dimension

• There’s no development or enough restoration

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

The right way to Make Power Coaching Secure for Children

Right here’s learn how to hold it protected, good, and helpful:

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in power coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Concentrate on approach—not the quantity of weight
✅ Age-appropriate programming with correct relaxation
✅ Gear that matches their physique
✅ Hold it enjoyable, skill-based, and interesting—particularly for youthful children

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 Mother and father

As a result of all of us need our youngsters to be robust, lively, and assured. However we additionally wish to defend them.

As an alternative of avoiding power coaching or creating worry round it, let’s train them to do it proper.

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

And that’s one thing value 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