A couple of weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my dwelling health club 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 mum or dad messaged me: “Is that really secure? I’ve at all times heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s development.”
And you recognize what? It’s a sound concern.
As a result of as mother and father, we wish our youngsters to be energetic and wholesome—however we additionally need them to be secure.
So let’s discuss that concern. The place it comes from, what the science really says, and what to look out for relating to resistance coaching for youngsters.
The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Progress” Delusion Come From?
Should you 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 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 youngsters’s bones, the place bone development occurs. So naturally, the thought of loading weight onto a rising skeleton raised considerations.
Then there’s the picture of many Olympic weightlifters: quick, highly effective athletes who carry large hundreds. It’s simple to imagine the game made them that method—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 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The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what really causes development points.
What the Science Really Says About Power Coaching and Progress
Let’s begin with the massive one: No, lifting weights doesn’t stunt a baby’s development.
In actual fact, when carried out correctly, resistance coaching has no detrimental impact on bone growth. Quite the opposite, it may really enhance bone density, coordination, and assist forestall harm.
Particularly as your baby will get older, combining resistance coaching with different sports activities can scale back their threat of harm.
Right here’s what the analysis reveals:
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A evaluate revealed in Pediatrics concluded there may be no proof that youth resistance coaching negatively impacts development plates or linear development.
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The Nationwide Power and Conditioning Affiliation (NSCA) states that youth power coaching applications, when correctly supervised, are secure and helpful.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics helps power coaching for youngsters, so long as the main target is on approach and never maximal weights.
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A examine within the Journal of Power and Conditioning Analysis discovered that harm 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 harm charges per 1,000 hours of participation throughout totally different sports activities:
| Exercise | Damage Price |
| 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 without doubt one of the most secure bodily actions your baby 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 discuss when weight coaching really can be dangerous for youths.
Like something, it depends upon the way it’s carried out.
Weight coaching turns into an issue when:
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Children carry weights unsupervised
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Nobody checks their kind or approach
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They’re pushed to carry too heavy, too quickly
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Tools isn’t suited to their dimension
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There’s no development or ample restoration
However let’s be sincere—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.
Learn how to Make Power Coaching Secure for Children
Right here’s methods to hold it secure, sensible, and helpful:
✅ Supervision by somebody educated in power coaching methods and progressions
✅ Concentrate on approach—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 youngsters
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 robust, energetic, and assured. However we additionally need to shield them.
As an alternative of avoiding power coaching or creating concern round it, let’s educate them to do it proper.
As a result of when it’s carried out 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://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483033/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3418954/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0949328X20301903
