9 year old wants some weights for Xmas, what size do I get?

[Mrstumbletap]

Anyone know about weights and what would be suitable for a 9 year old?

I'm thinking just some little dumbbell type things for his room, he is tall and lean and likes being active and doing good push ups etc and said he would like some.

Do I go for a small set of 1kg type things to start off or is that too light?

If I was going to buy weights for a nine year old I would definitely start light. I would be wary though as that is such a young age.

If it helps, my dd does a sport and as part of their training they go to a gym where they have been taught to lift weights safely. They didn't start until they were 14 as their coach doesn't allow them to lift weights before then, dd is now 18 and is now lifting 70kg in some exercises.

I would suggest maybe finding a sport that would enable your ds to gain muscle if that's what he wants, so rugby rather than football for example, or a sport that he enjoys and will build his fitness naturally and enable him to interact with others at the same time.

1-2kg only. Heavy weights aren't great for kids given they're still growing and lifting shortens the muscles etc at a time when they get growth spurts for example, he will also need some direction about exercises and maintaining the right posture when lifting etc

Agree with PP about getting involved in other sports. Bodyweight moves are just as good!

He does karate and swimming every week and loves it.

So even little tiny weights wouldn't be a good idea? Might have to have a rethink if not.

Honestly, OP, I think that any weights at that age is a bad idea, from talking to my older, athletic godsons and friends' sons. My nephew in particular, who was a star at several different sports from a very young age, says he wrecked his own body by starting weight training too soon (by which I think he meant it's considered bad for growing bodies to be developing muscle too quickly in relation to the frame) and that he would avoid that completely till the mid-teens. He feels it ended his chance for a professional rugby career because of lingering physical problems.

I'm a powerlifter and my ds is 12 and has lifted weights for around a year when he started to show interest. There's no evidence to show that lifting weights at a young age causes issues. There are loads being coached by professionals on Instagram etc. I'd obviously start light but also make sure he knows how to use them properly. Can you get him a PT session in a gym so they can show you both how to use them safely. My gym does this for children.

Oh heavens no! - far far too young with a still developing spine; with bones still plastic. No way would I give weights to such a young child. You would be brewing up back problems for the rest of his life. No way!

OP is not talking about power lifting but using light dumbells!

I'm sure weights shouldn't be used by children as it damages their bones...

I just googled it and a lot of

Ffs it just posted too soon
I just googled and a lot of sites say you can start around age 7/8 with light weights

At that age using his own body weight would be far more effective - push ups, planks etc. If he’s doing a variety of sports, core strength and flexibility are more important. Why not ask his coaches what they would recommend.

From what I can see online, they say if your child is old enough to take part in sports (he was playing rugby at 7/8 but didn't want to continue) they can lift weights and their bones will be fine.

www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=weight-room-no-longer-off-limits-to-kids-1-1187

But it still doesn't say how heavy the weights can be? So no idea if the weights should be 1kg or 3kg etc.

@Pharos yeah I think I will have to ask at Karate, I'm sure they will say just do 20 more push ups you don't need weights!

But he currently uses his desk chair in his room, and every other night I hear "thump" and he says "dont worry mum it's just the bottom of my chair falling off!" Bloody ikea!

None

I would speak to a paediatrician rather than websites with an agenda. I wouldn't have let my child lift weights at that age, but if he was adamant I would have taken medical advice.

If he does karate and did rugby then 1kg is likely to be too light. You can get dumbell trees that come with a selection of weights.

Our local crossfit does junior classes.

up til 12 I think it’s learning the movements and good form, bodyweight exercises like pull ups and chin ups etc.

at 9 I think he needs supervision and some help on how to do the movements properly. Then he’s set for later when/if he wants to start lifting.

For context...
0.5kg... yin of beans
1kg... nag of sugar
2kg... 2 litres of coke

Fitkidz do weights for juniors. They advertise at Hyrox events