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In my opinion children should not start any sort of weight training until they hit puberty and then only with instruction and supervision. Can't speak for teen girls but boys don't want to do anything other than show off trying to bench and curl more weight than their buddies.
Would say high school and hopefully with a good strength coach. Keep them away from "bro-science" and start with the basics like Starting Strength. Think kids should be able to knock out 20+ pushups and 3-5+ pullups before they need the weight room.
I am lucky that my kids don't take fitness seriously, per se. They just play the heck out of life. My 13 yo can out sprint me with no effort at all. "Oh" he said the last time we did hill repeats. "You were trying to beat me?" I gave my 11yo a hug the other day. Her body is as solid as a brick. No specific point here but that I think it is cool.
At what age do you think a kid would take the gym seriously?
I know I started in 8th grade and couldn't have imagined trying to build strength before 6th.
When I was in 6th grade, I would go with a friend to lift weights with an adult who was a friend of his parents. He had a bench and free weights in his basement. He taught us different types of lifts and made sure our form was correct and that we weren't using too much weight. I was 11 at the time.
I wish I would have stuck with lifting at that time. The friend and I stopped getting along, and I didn't start lifting again until I bought a sets of weights when I was 16.
All boys should be encouraged to start lifting at least by the time they are in 7th grade.
When I was in 6th grade, I would go with a friend to lift weights with an adult who was a friend of his parents. He had a bench and free weights in his basement. He taught us different types of lifts and made sure our form was correct and that we weren't using too much weight. I was 11 at the time.
I wish I would have stuck with lifting at that time. The friend and I stopped getting along, and I didn't start lifting again until I bought a sets of weights when I was 16.
All boys should be encouraged to start lifting at least by the time they are in 7th grade.
good point kids are probably able to go to the gym a year or two before they would take it seriously.
I was 13 when I got a 110 pound cement filled weight set and adjustable bench. I set it up in the basement and put the workout poster on the wall. The following Christmas I got a 165 pound set and pretty soon I was combining the weights of both sets. I took it pretty seriously at that age, and I feel that it helped me learn the importance of lifelong fitness. I try to let my sons (5 and 7) see that it's important to me now and they go through the movements with broomsticks and play on the rings, but they need to be teenagers before I'll let them use weights. They can get plenty of exercise now on the playground equipment. The weight room is for the adults.
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