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

A couple of weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my residence fitness center with my 3-year-old toddler subsequent to me, copying me together 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 mum or dad messaged me: “Is that truly secure? I’ve at all times heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s development.”

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

As a result of as mother and father, we would like our youngsters to be energetic and wholesome—however we additionally need them to be secure.

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 youngsters.

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

For those who grew up listening to that lifting weights too early may “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 concern 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 concept of loading weight onto a rising skeleton raised considerations.

Then there’s the picture of many Olympic weightlifters: brief, highly effective athletes who raise huge hundreds. It’s simple to imagine the game made them that means—however that’s not what occurred.

They’re brief 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 report 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The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what truly causes development points.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 Truly Says About Power Coaching and Progress

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

In truth, when finished correctly, resistance coaching has no destructive impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it will probably truly improve bone density, coordination, and assist forestall damage.

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

Right here’s what the analysis reveals:

• 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 energy coaching applications, when correctly supervised, are secure and useful.

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

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

How Secure Is Youth Weight Coaching, Actually?

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

Seems, resistance training is among the most secure bodily actions your little one can do—when finished 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 relies on the way it’s finished.

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Children raise weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their kind or method

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

• Tools isn’t suited to their measurement

• There’s no development or ample 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 prepare.

How you can Make Power Coaching Secure for Children

Right here’s the right way to maintain it secure, sensible, and useful:

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in energy coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Deal with method—not the quantity of weight
✅ Age-appropriate programming with correct relaxation
✅ Tools that matches their physique
✅ Maintain it enjoyable, skill-based, and fascinating—particularly for youthful children

When these issues are in place, lifting weights turns into not simply secure—it turns into a basis for future motion abilities 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 sturdy, energetic, and assured. However we additionally need to defend them.

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

As a result of when it’s finished proper, energy 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