At What Age Can A Child Lift Weights

  references
  
      Nemours KidsHealth: "Strength Training"
    
      American Council on Exercise: "Strength Training for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Teachers"
    
      Stanford Children's Health: "Weight Training for Teens"
    
      U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans"
    
      American Academy of Pediatrics: "Effects of Puberty on Sports Performance: What Parents Need to Know"
    
      Hospital for Special Surgery: "Strength and Conditioning for Kids: How and Why?"
    




Children as young as 7 or 8 can start working out with light weights.

Image Credit: The Good Brigade/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Image Credit: The Good Brigade/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Although your child may want to see physical gains as a result of their efforts, children won’t gain muscle in the same way adults can until they go through puberty, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Explain this to your child in advance and emphasize that getting stronger and increasing athletic performance are more important than having bigger muscle fibers.

      Nemours KidsHealth: "Strength Training"
    
      American Council on Exercise: "Strength Training for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Teachers"
    
      Stanford Children's Health: "Weight Training for Teens"
    
      U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans"
    
      American Academy of Pediatrics: "Effects of Puberty on Sports Performance: What Parents Need to Know"
    
      Hospital for Special Surgery: "Strength and Conditioning for Kids: How and Why?"