| Children from 6 years old and above can benefit | | | | want to participate in sports and get healthy. |
| from doing light strength and weight training. The | | | | Here's What You Should Be Doing |
| majority of parents however are cynical as to | | | | Ideally you should consult a trainer to help you |
| how healthy it is for children to do strength | | | | make proper training routine for your child, but |
| training, the fact is though, that children who start | | | | you should just aim to make sure that they work |
| strength training early do not suffer from the | | | | out their whole body at least 3 times a week, |
| common myth of stunted growth. Children who | | | | remembering to include a proper warm up and |
| take up strength training have few if any | | | | cool down. For example you could have them do |
| disadvantages and it is a positive step for most | | | | 20 minutes of cardio, broken into ten minutes of |
| children. As it will encourage your child to be | | | | skipping, and ten minutes of running (or playing |
| active and learn the importance of exercise. You | | | | tag). Once they've done that you could do some |
| can also use it for extra family time and it will | | | | strength training exercises without weights, such |
| teach your child healthy habits for life. | | | | as a circuit; including press ups, star jumps, sit |
| Don't Start Them Too Early | | | | ups, squats, squat thrusts, burpees and leg raises |
| Your children shouldn't start strength training until | | | | for example. Once they've built up a basic level of |
| they are both emotionally and physically mature | | | | strength and endurance you can start to |
| enough to deal with it. Generally this is at around | | | | introduce some light weights exercises. |
| age 6 for the majority of children, if in doubt | | | | Remember your child is a child and not an adult, |
| speak to a doctor first. However as the child's | | | | so don't push them too hard, you're not aiming |
| parent you will no as well as anyone if your child | | | | for them to bulk up so you should keep the |
| is ready. They must be able to listen carefully and | | | | weights light and only slowly increase them over a |
| follow instructions to prevent injury or accidents, | | | | long period of time. Don't forget to finish with a |
| but the exercises you do should be fun, easy to | | | | proper cool down and stretching session. |
| do and not to technical or intense. | | | | Children are not perfect and they may not |
| Remember your child is not an adult and their | | | | always do what you ask, and you may have bad |
| strength training shouldn't be anywhere near as | | | | days with them, but remember they are only |
| intense or demanding as you might do. It's more | | | | children; you can always bribe them with healthy |
| important that you use the opportunity to teach | | | | treats or bonus pocket money for behaving well. |
| your child healthy lifestyle habits than to try to | | | | If you decide to take you child to a gym make |
| get them to build up muscle. Only once they have | | | | sure you clear it with them first or find one that |
| gone through puberty, should they think about | | | | caters for children, alternatively join a circuit |
| trying to build up muscle mass. Instead you should | | | | training class which would be ideal. Strength |
| aim to improve basic endurance and strength, so | | | | training can be fun and a great way to spend |
| that the child feels better and fitter. This is | | | | more quality time with your child so give it a try. |
| especially important for overweight children who | | | | |