Does Lifting Weights Stunt Development in Children? What Dad and mom Have to Know

Just a few 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 truly secure? 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 mother and father, we would like our children 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 on the subject of resistance coaching for kids.

The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Development” Fantasy Come From?

In the event you 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 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 large masses. It’s simple to imagine the game made them that manner—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 truth: The all-time world document 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The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what truly causes development points.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 Energy Coaching and Development

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

In actual fact, when accomplished correctly, resistance coaching has no adverse impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it could possibly truly improve bone density, coordination, and assist forestall damage.

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

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 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 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 Secure 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 without doubt one of the most secure bodily actions your youngster 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 teenagers.

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

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Children raise weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their type or approach

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

• Gear isn’t suited to their dimension

• There’s no development or sufficient 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.

How you can Make Energy Coaching Secure for Children

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

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in energy coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Deal with 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 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 children to be sturdy, energetic, and assured. However we additionally need to shield them.

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

As a result of when it’s accomplished 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://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