Experts say weight training is good for children

I got muddled in the maze of neuromuscular learning and things myself, so let’s just say it is pure common sense; when you exercise and lift weights you get stronger.

Secondly, strength training improves bone mass density of children and adolescents which in turn helps keep at bay a condition known as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease which makes bones brittle and spongy— your arms and legs snap like twigs at a mere touch-and it results from lack of calcium in the body.

If you don’t take enough calcium your body raids the bones to get the calcium already stored there weakening them, but osteoporosis can be aggravated by insufficient bone mass which is brought about by inactivity.

Weight-bearing exercise leads to a build of calcium in the bones, assuming of course that your calcium intake is sufficient.

Your child can begin weight training at six, so the experts say, but I wouldn’t advise you to take him to the gym that early unless the prophet in your church or your personal witchdoctor has already received divine communication that he or she will become an Olympic weight lifter or a champion body builder.

Ideally, your child should begin weight training when they are emotionally mature to follow instructions and understand the benefits and risks involved in weight training.

When you are convinced that your child can start to weight train and that he or she will have a ball doing it, your first port of call should be the doctor’s then hook them up with a trainer who will make an appropriate programme for them.

Proper execution

Your child should never train alone,; they should be supervised all the time. Accidents happen sometimes.

For children and adolescents, weight training should focus on the proper execution of the exercise rather than the amount of the weight lifted, at least initially.

Exercising two or three days a week should suffice and each session should begin with a cardio warm up.

Get the child to perform one exercise for each muscle group then wrap it up by cooling down and stretching.