Is it safe for my 12 year old to start working out?

[realgear]

My son is 12 and he wants to start lifting weights because of me is it ok meaning safe or will it affect his growth???

[jpowell]

Yea. Depending whr ur at there are youth personal trainers who specialize in youth growth. There is a huge difference b/c of growth issues and soft bones/ligaments etc still at his age.

Monitor his form. Stress to him form over weight/reps.

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[InsaneInTheMembrane]

at 12, he probably hasn't hit puberty yet, nor his growth spurt. I would hold off till he is 16. Let his body grow in its stride. Let him enjoy sports (bball, soccer, football, volleyball, tennis, sprinting, etc...) as forms of physical exercise. But if you really insist, then jpowell said it: low weights and proper form so you don't injure and render permanent alteration/damage to bone and ligament growth

Also remember, whether people here get defensive or not, juicing amongst teens is very prevalent... you wouldn't want your impressionable 12 year old being faced with such temptations at such an early age. my .02 cents really

[mckiney34]

I started lifting when I was 11. My dad had me doing mostly bw exercises like dips chins and push-ups the I worked my way up. If you start him out with the weights take it easy. Light weights only teach him good forum . I didn't realize at the time why my pops was making me lift but now I thank him everyday for it.

[realgear]

Thanks alot guys I will take all this Information into great consideration .

[boxingfan30]

I've always heard that lifting young would stunt a kids growth and then years ago I had a debate with a guy who sent me a lot of links that showed this was pretty much a myth.

[Back In Black]

I've always heard that lifting young would stunt a kids growth and then years ago I had a debate with a guy who sent me a lot of links that showed this was pretty much a myth.

Lifting will not stunt growth. As the above guys said you need to be careful as bones are still lengthening and tendons/ligaments/muscles are also in a state of growth.

I've trained kids as young as 13 but its not about training with big weights and not about training to failure. Higher reps. 15 or so Of a moderate weight until they are approx 16 and then, they can move to something more along the lines of what we do as adults.

I think it's great to start the healthy lifestyle as an early teen!

[Squats33]

I started power lifting at 14. Squats. Deadlifts. overhead press. Bench press. Went from 185 freshman year to a fat 215 my soph. year of high school. Didnt know nutrition then obviously. I approve of weights. Proper form. Was taught form and proper range of motion. Dont try to make a young kid "big". Just make them stronger.

[rollingthunder]

i would suggest caution. age is one factor. maturity is another, as some have mentioned here, (puberty). each boy is going to mature at a different rate. one of my buddies growing up was shaving in 7th grade.

i would start with body weight exercises as mckiney suggested - pull-ups, push-ups, dips. tell him when he can do (for example) 10 pull-ups, 25 push-ups and 10 dips, then he's ready for weights. and then, absolutely, light weights and emphasize proper form.

[CMB]

For the two posts above stating you must be 16 to lift weights have no clue what they are talking about... by age 14 almost everybody can push HEAVY weight.

[Back In Black]

For the two posts above stating you must be 16 to lift weights have no clue what they are talking about... by age 14 almost everybody can push HEAVY weight.

What 2 posts are you referring to?

[BR0DIE]

He is the perfect age to start a sport like boxing, MMA or anything really. It's something I wish my parents had pushed on me at that age, I'm now trying to take up MMA now and I assume it'll be 10x harder because of my age.

[ironbeck]

I would not let him use heavy weight....he may begin and lose interest, then pick it up again around 16, its normal to want to be like daddy.

[Lazarov]

I'd just teach him proper form for now.