Does Lifting Weights Stunt Development in Youngsters? What Dad and mom Must Know

Just a few weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my house health club 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 dad or mum messaged me: “Is that truly secure? I’ve at all times heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s progress.”

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

As a result of as dad and mom, 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 in relation to resistance coaching for kids.

The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Development” Fantasy 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 truly come from?

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

Then there’s the picture of many Olympic weightlifters: quick, highly effective athletes who raise huge masses. 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 kind offers them a mechanical benefit within the sport. Not as a result of lifting stunted their progress.

Enjoyable truth: 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The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what truly causes progress points.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 progress.

In actual fact, when completed correctly, resistance coaching has no unfavorable impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it might 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 threat of damage.

Right here’s what the analysis exhibits:

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

• The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) states that youth power coaching packages, when correctly supervised, are secure and useful.

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

• A examine 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 likely one of the most secure bodily actions your little one can do—when completed proper.

When Weight Coaching Can Be a Concern for Youngsters

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

Like something, it relies on the way it’s completed.

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Youngsters raise weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their type or approach

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

• Gear isn’t suited to their measurement

• There’s no development or sufficient 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 prepare.

The right way to Make Energy Coaching Protected for Youngsters

Right here’s hold it secure, sensible, and useful:

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in power coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Give attention to 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 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 wish to shield them.

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

As a result of when it’s completed 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