subject: Encouraging Your Child To Lift Weights [print this page] The benefits of strength training are not only limited to adults. These benefits extend to children.
Studies have shown that children who exercise tend to perform better in school and in a variety of other activities. Exercise can also help children develop a higher self-esteem, directed level of energy, and confidence.
Children often want to participate in weight lifting when they see their parents participating on the home gym. Sadly, many parents discourage this idea.
Instead, weightlifting could be a relationship building activity. You could have fun with your child while completing one of your daily tasks.
If you allow them to participate, you will be giving them benefits that they will not have even thought of. When you allow them to participate, make sure they use low levels of weights and a high number of repetitions.
It is much more dangerous for them to lift a very heavy amount of weight only one or two times. In addition, they will not reap as many of the benefits.
The amount of weight your child should lift will depend on the size, weight, and strength level of your child. One indication of whether or not your child is lifting the correct weight is whether or not your child can lift the weigh eight to fifteen times.
If they cannot lift the weight at least eight consecutive times, the weight is definitely too heavy. You and your child should not be too concerned about your child building muscle bulk.
You should simply want your child to enjoy to benefits of becoming strong. Children cannot add too much muscle bulk until they pass through puberty.
The best thing to focus on while they are young is that they perform the exercises with the proper technique. This will allow them to safely and effectively lift heavy weights when they are older.
If you allow your child to use free weights, make sure that you spot them. They could seriously injure themselves if they perform the exercise incorrectly or if they start lifting too much weight.
As your child becomes stronger, they may show a lot of interest in weight lifting. If this seems like a long-term thing, you may want to consider signing them up for professional training at a local gym.
There are several things you should check to make sure that the training program will be safe for your child. The first thing you should check is that there is a instructor-to-child ratio of a minimum of one to ten.
This will make sure that the instructor will be able to spend an appropriate amount with your child and that the children will be properly supervised. The instructor should also be able to show you a developed history of working with children and correct strength training.
This will make sure that the training sessions will be worthwhile to your child. You may want to consider watching a session or two before signing your child up.
By viewing the session, you will be able to see the trainer's technique and style of teaching. When the supervisor teaches a new exercise, the trainer should make sure the area is hazard-free, well-lit, and well-ventilated.
Then, he or she should show how to correctly perform the exercise. After this, the children should perform the exercise one at a time, under supervision, to make sure they are correctly performing it.
Calisthenics and stretching exercises should also be a regular part of the training sessions. These exercises should be performed both before and after the strength training session.
For the most part, children should start with one set of eight to 15 repetitions of about six to eight exercises that focus on major muscle groups of both the lower and upper body. This will ensure a comprehensive, basic workout.
The trainer should also start the children on new exercises with no weight. Occasionally a light weight can be used with a high level of repetition.
This will make sure the child is performing the technique properly before weight it added. Gradually weight can be added according to the child's strength.
Repetitions and sets can also be added as the child improves. The best training schedule is generally two to three sessions a week on nonconsecutive days.
While strength training can provide great benefits to your child, aerobic exercises should also be a significant part of the child's life. There are added benefits that a child can receive from aerobic exercise that cannot be gleaned from only weight training.
by: Tom Selwick
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