Should Children Exercise?

Is your little 6-year-old or 8-year-old asking you if he can work out and lift weights? If he is, you probably don't know if saying yes is a good idea. Though some people think it is perfectly fine for children to exercise, some others think working out is definitely not for children.

In response, children can indeed work out or get involved in lifting weights, however, as the parent, you must keep a few things in mind.

Since children are different from adults, their needs both physiological and emotional are different as well.

Bones don't mature until children are anywhere between 14 and 22 years of age. Especially for girls, exercise during the childhood years can severely impact the health of their bones for years to come.

Children are easily vulnerable to growth related overuse injuries; Osgood Schlatter is one of the most common. And, children don't have full control of their inner thermostat since they have a large surface area in ratio to their muscle mass, and they can get hurt easily unless they have done enough warm up exercises.

Also, children rarely sweat a lot, so they are at a higher risk of getting heat strokes and heat exhaustion. In addition, children have low muscle mass and a still immature hormonal system, making it harder for them to be fast and strong. They also have a different breathing and heart response than adults, which makes them respond to the workout differently.

It is true, however, that young children can strongly improve their strength with weight training, though it is important to understand that this is due to neurological factors more than it is because of muscle growth.

If you are considering the possibility of letting your child work out, you should definitely have the child's doctor administer a full physical first. 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.

It is also important to schedule rest periods of 1 to 2 days between workouts, to allow the child to rest and recuperate. During the exercise, form is what the child should focus on, instead than the amount of weights lifted.

Ensure that there is a good amount of stretching done before weight training. The load your child lifts should be very light in the beginning, and it should be gradually increased as the child becomes stronger. Make sure you don't schedule more than three workout sessions per week. They also need to drink an adequate amount 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.

About the author: Writer Eugene Graham 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.