Kids lifting

[Kevevans34]

So my son turned 12 may 31 and I let him go to the gym today and lift with me. I have read mixed views on kids lifting weights what age they should start. I have always told him to just do push-ups sit-ups and pull-ups and run but he really wants to hit the weights. I was just curious what some of you guys think I started lifting around 14 I think and got really in to it at 18
So I just want to know if you guys think 12 is to young to lift and really lift not just mess around

 

[RodgerThat]

Never too young to lift weights as long as they are taking adiquete calories in to still aid in growth then it is 100% fine for a kid to lift weights it's only when you'd have a kid in a state of starvation it would effect growth

 

[Cyrix]

So my son turned 12 may 31 and I let him go to the gym today and lift with me. I have read mixed views on kids lifting weights what age they should start. I have always told him to just do push-ups sit-ups and pull-ups and run but he really wants to hit the weights. I was just curious what some of you guys think I started lifting around 14 I think and got really in to it at 18
So I just want to know if you guys think 12 is to young to lift and really lift not just mess around

My son started at 10 and is fine. Strong little dude now in his teens pulling 3x his weight.

 

[IronJulius]

I let mine train at 12 but wouldn't let him lift heavy until a few months before his 14th birthday which his max at 13 yo 137lbs was DL 315 (clean) squat 285 (pretty much box squat) bench 145. This summer he is back training higher reps but focus mainly on speed and Agility for sports. My wifes a nurse works with children and if they have started puberty and not going extremely heavy they should be fine with diet and rest

Edit most kids who play sports start lifting in 7th grade. I prefer my kids training with me or at least learning before getting in a weight room with a bunch of teenage punks

 

[Kinetic]

My oldest is 12 and is big into baseball. He's a power hitter and a pitcher but is tall and skinny. He's been begging me to work out since I built my home gym and I've finally let him start coming with me a few days a week.

Nothing heavy; lots of cardio and some light reps with an empty bench bar, some 10lb dumbells, etc. Working him into it slowly and teaching him good form. So far, so good.

I think they're ready for it at that age, but must be supervised at all times. I could see him loading up too much weight without me around and injuring himself real quick.

Hoping this will pay off and he'll stick with it (and baseball) and get a scholarship one day. If nothing else, it's good discipline for kids that age.

 

[Docd187123]

Nothing wrong with kids lifting. This is the time to drill proper form into their heads though.

 

[big unit]

I started at 12yo...40yo now. Lift properly with good form and use the appropriate amount of weight and it's great! Very good way to engrain a healthy lifestyle into kids IMO.

 

[Ironlord]

I've heard it said that there's potential for damaging growth plates between bones if lifting too heavy, too young, but idk.
Had my oldest pulling twice his bodyweight when he was 11/12, then he lost interest (video games).
Now he's 17, and bigger and wider than me naturally without ever working out... Wish I could get him into it again.

My two year old pulls over his bodyweight right now though, so maybe there's a future

 

[big unit]

Had my oldest pulling twice his bodyweight when he was 11/12...

That's the type of lifting at 11-12yo that intuitively I would think is dangerous. No facts or data to support that. It just seems far too aggressive at that age.

 

[Ironlord]

That's the type of lifting at 11-12yo that intuitively I would think is dangerous. No facts or data to support that. It just seems far too aggressive at that age.

True. But then we go back to what a lot of the members are saying above, that it comes down to keeping form and technique on point.
I've been a strongman /pl'er for 20 years ..definitely spent a lot of time when him on perfecting technique, accessory work, and warmup, smr, etc.

And remember... Kids are waaay lighter than us.. Double bodyweight isn't much. Most kids can bang out push ups, chin ups, sit-ups endlessly. Strength is relative at that age..