Is It Okay For Children To Exercise?

Do you have a young child of 6 to 8 years of age who has asked you if he can work out and maybe even lift weights? If so, you are probably a bit confused as to what you should respond. Even if some people think it is perfectly safe for young children to work out, some others are strongly against it.

There is nothing wrong with children exercising and even lifting weights if they enjoy it, however, it is important that you keep certain a few things in mind.

Since children are not just small adults, but are different emotionally, anatomically and physiologically, you can't forget that their training needs to also be different.

Bones don't mature until children are anywhere between 14 and 22 years of age. Girls, especially, must approach exercise in their younger years very carefully, or they take the chance of compromising the health of their bones for the rest of their lives.

Children are very prone to developing growth related overuse injuries, such as is seen in Osgood schlatter disease. And since children have immature temperature control systems, and a surface area inferior to the muscle mass, they are more prone to injuries when not properly warmed up.

And since children sweat very little, their risk of suffering from a heat stroke or heat exhaustion is much higher than for adults. Also, children have little muscle mass and a hormone system which still needs to mature, so their strength and speed are going to be limited. They also have a different breathing and heart response than adults, which makes them respond to the workout differently.

However, young children are still able to benefit from weight training, as long as one keeps in mind that their gained strength is more the result of neurological factors than muscle growth.

If you are thinking of letting your child work out, you should definitely consult your doctor first and ask for a full check up. When you create a program, it would be good to establish a repetition range of 8-12, and make sure you don't overdo the workload.

The workout schedule should also be set to have 1 to 2 days in between workout sessions, to allow the child the time to rest. When it comes to child training, form is definitely more important than the amount of weight lifted.

Make sure the child warms up enough before he starts his weight training routine. Your child should start off with a very light load, which can be increased over time. Make sure you don't schedule more than three workout sessions per week. And, make sure they get a good intake of water, before, during and after the workout. Drinking enough water is very important when one exercises, as one can easily become dehydrated; children even more than adults.

Author bio: Writer Allan Marsh is a dog enthusiast. If you're looking for the pick of the litter, check these English bulldog puppies for sale. These litters of English bulldogs for sale are wrinkly with a massive nose rope and overdone. One of these classic dogs is perfect for your family.