Last year about this time I attended my first preseason football meeting for my son who was going into 6th grade at the time. I had no idea what to expect and how much work it would be for him.
The meeting covered more than just practice times and how to get your uniform. It also included information on the importance of nutrition and what the boys should be eating. They also talked about exercise and stressed that the middle school students would not be utilizing the workout room, which was reserved for high school football players.
One of the coaches went on to explain why students in middle school should not start using weights just yet. They talked about their bodies not being ready for that kind of intense training program and how they are vulnerable to injuries.
Yet I have also read that it’s okay for children to lift weights. In fact, one article I read stated that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine, children over the age of 6 can benefit from strength training.
Honestly, I think with the obesity epidemic in the United States, less focus should be on strength training and more focus should be on getting our children active in other ways. Running, biking, swimming and those sorts of aerobic exercises are probably safer for children and they definitely help as far as fitness goes.
The risk of being injured seems to be too high and if children aren’t closely monitored, they could end up lifting weights that are much too heavy which could be catastrophic. Besides, do we really need to emphasize muscles to children? I think at this point in their lives we need to emphasize the importance of having a healthy body.
So I for one am glad that I don’t have to worry about my middle school son working out in the school’s gym. What do you think about children lifting weights?
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