Just a few weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my dwelling gymnasium 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 mother or father messaged me: “Is that truly secure? I’ve at all times heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s development.”
And you understand what? It’s a legitimate concern.
As a result of as mother and father, we wish our youngsters to be lively 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 really says, and what to look out for in relation to resistance coaching for kids.
The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Development” Fable Come From?
If you happen to grew up listening to that lifting weights too early may “harm 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 concern of injuring one thing referred to as the development plates—areas of growing cartilage close to the ends of kids’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 sort 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 toes 6 inches tall (197 cm).
The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what really causes development points.
What the Science Really Says About Energy Coaching and Development
Let’s begin with the massive one: No, lifting weights doesn’t stunt a baby’s development.
In actual fact, when achieved correctly, resistance coaching has no unfavorable impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it may possibly really enhance 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 threat of harm.
Right here’s what the analysis exhibits:
-
A overview printed in Pediatrics concluded there may be no proof that youth resistance coaching negatively impacts development plates or linear development.
-
The Nationwide Energy and Conditioning Affiliation (NSCA) states that youth energy coaching packages, when correctly supervised, are secure and useful.
-
The American Academy of Pediatrics helps energy coaching for kids, so long as the main target is on method and never maximal weights.
-
A research within the Journal of Energy and Conditioning Analysis discovered that harm charges in youth weight coaching are considerably decrease than in lots of widespread 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:
| Exercise | Damage Charge |
| Supervised Weight Coaching | ~0.7 accidents |
| Gymnastics | 0.5 – 1.3 accidents |
| Soccer (Coaching) | 3.7 – 11.1 accidents |
| Soccer (Video games) | 9.5 – 48.7 accidents |
| Basketball | 14 – 22 accidents |
| American Soccer | 5.7 – 6.8 accidents |
Seems, resistance coaching is among the most secure bodily actions your baby can do—when achieved 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 will depend on the way it’s achieved.
Weight coaching turns into an issue when:
-
Children raise weights unsupervised
-
Nobody checks their type or method
-
They’re pushed to raise too heavy, too quickly
-
Tools isn’t suited to their measurement
-
There’s no development or enough restoration
However let’s be trustworthy—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.
Tips on how to Make Energy Coaching Secure for Children
Right here’s methods to hold it secure, good, and useful:
✅ Supervision by somebody educated in energy coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Concentrate on method—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 children
When these issues are in place, lifting weights turns into not simply secure—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 youngsters to be sturdy, lively, and assured. However we additionally need to defend them.
As an alternative of avoiding energy coaching or creating concern round it, let’s train them to do it proper.
As a result of when it’s achieved 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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483033/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3418954/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0949328X20301903
