Kids Lifting Weights?

[Mickey]

A home school kid we know, who is now 14, was a bit chubby when he was 10, 11 and 12 and then he started to lift weights. My ds (10) asked him about weight lifting and the kid told ds that you can damage your muscles if you lift weights before the age of 12. I just realized that ds found my 2 pound weights and has been using them--he told me he's been doing curls with them every night for the past two weeks--he says he does it until it burns. I'm concerned because I don't want him to harm himself. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!

[SpeechMom]

Dh says it's the bones, not the muscles that can be damaged, but 2 lb free weights won't hurt him.

[AnnW]

I heard it's in the growth plate, but I don't think 2 lbs weights would hurt him either. He should only do weights in the same area every other day though.

[RCT]

2 lbs weights shouldn't hurt him....ds does GIRL PUSH UPS every other night, as does dd...building strength in those arms for basketball....

I agree weights only every other day....

[Diane]

My neighbor's ds (8th grade) is lifting weights... like 10/15 pound ones, and it doesn't seem to be hurting him any either. I too wouldn't think 2 pounders would do too much to hurt him at all. Kind of cute that he's taken it upon himself to do this... :)

[Mickey]

Thank you all so much! And I will tell him to alternate the curls with another lift.

[KarlaB]

I just asked dh who puts together weight lifting programs here. He said he personally wouldn't recommend any 10 yr old to lift weights (same reason Donna's dh gave about the bones), but if he wants to and you are okay with it this is his unsolicited (LOL) advice. He should only do 2 or 3 sets of 10-12 reps and then stop before it burns. :)