| Many people are skeptical about just how | | | | very low. Instead, your child will generally |
| healthy childhood weight training can be, but | | | | feel better and notice an increase in |
| parents should put their fears to | | | | strength and endurance. This is important for |
| rest-Children as young as six years old can | | | | children who participate in sports and for |
| benefit from participating in weight | | | | children who are overweight. |
| training. Contrary to the popular myth, | | | | |
| children who hit the gym with their parents | | | | A trainer or coach can help you determine the |
| do not have stunted growth. In fact, weight | | | | correct routine for you child, but generally, |
| training has few disadvantages for children. | | | | you just want to make sure that your son or |
| If your child want to be active and you want | | | | daughter works out the entire body and has |
| some extra family time, try using the weight | | | | adequate warm up and cool down time. Start |
| room together for a fun experience that | | | | with about 20 minutes of cardiovascular |
| instills healthy habits into your child's | | | | exercises. One activity that children like is |
| mindset at a young age. | | | | jump roping, but if you have a group of |
| | | | children, you can also play an outdoor game |
| Children should not begin weight training or | | | | to get the heart pumping as well, such as |
| other workouts until they are physically and | | | | tag. Once your child has warmed up, do one |
| emotionally mature enough to handle it. This | | | | weighted exercise for each group of muscles. |
| falls around age 6 for most children. If you | | | | Unlike you, your child should not push his or |
| are still unsure, you doctor can help you | | | | her limits to the edge, but instead focus on |
| determine if your child's body is ready for | | | | gradually increasing weight over a longer |
| the gym. As a parent, you will know if your | | | | period of time. End the workout with 10-20 |
| child is mentally ready-injuries can happen | | | | minutes of stretching to help you and your |
| if not careful, so your child should be able | | | | child cool down. |
| to listen and follow directions to prevent | | | | |
| this from happening. | | | | Realize that not every day at the gym is a |
| | | | good day, so excuse your child's misbehavior |
| Of course, your child's routine should not be | | | | occasionally. You might want to consider |
| nearly as intense as an adult routine. At | | | | working out at a gym specifically for |
| this point in their lives, it is more | | | | children or families to avoid getting in the |
| important for children to learn healthy | | | | way of serious bodybuilders. Weight training |
| habits at the gym instead of trying to build | | | | together can be a fun activity and may |
| muscle mass. Until your child goes through | | | | motivate you to stick to your healthy |
| puberty, they are unlikely to build muscles | | | | schedule. |
| because the level of testosterone will be | | | | |