DM disapproves of DS starting running as a hobby

[Pompomdaisies]

My DS is 7 and we’ve recently taken him to a couple of local races, junior park runs and a local community 2k, in that particular race he came 11th out of 75 juniors, the children who beat him were all older.
He really seems to enjoy it and does appear to have a talent for it.
His dad, my DP is a fell runner.
There is a junior fell running club on once a week locally and I mentioned to my DM that we’re thinking of taking him, she wasn’t keen on the previous races either.
She thinks it’s detrimental to his developing bones and that it may cause problems long term. She thinks we are pushing him into it (which we’re not - we wouldn’t entertain the idea unless he enjoyed it). She also didn’t like the photo I sent her of DS after his race, as he was bright red in the face and looked done in. All the kids looked similar. She said she’s worried it’s too much for him.

Honestly he runs everywhere, he’s a very active child and already does swimming & martial arts every week. He’s one of those kids who needs a lot of physical stimulation.

If it’s a proper club, they will have coaches qualified to coach juniors - ours is fabulous. Great mix of having fun and pushing them hard enough to make it tough.

I would actively encourage it. If he joins a running club, they’ll be taught to warm up and down and not to overdo the training. He might go off running as he gets older or he might carry on forever… we started park running with the kids at a similar age and the 21yr old is just about to do his first Iron man so it certainly did him no harm!

And? Why does she have to give her approval? So what if she doesn't like it?

DS2 used to run and probably started about 8 . He was part of an athletics club but I would not say that this would guarantee that they train safely . I did my own research and made sure I curbed the excesses . He stopped about 13/14 and hasn’t raced since . He liked running but not competition and crowds .

I will try and find the info I found at the time and link it for you if I do .

Jesus, yes there is risk of injury but there is in any sport. Even golf you can get a ball to the head.

I do think you need to be a little careful as he’s so young, particularly if he is very self motivated and enthusiastic. But I’m sure you will be. Just reassure her that you’ll look after him.

I'm doing a S & C course and there's a fair bit on youth training in the course.

Basically, if he has enough rest and recovery and isn't overtraining, carry on...the bone thing is a myth that apparently stems from a study on kids that worked down pits and had stunted growth It's more often discussed with strength training but that's the history of it.

As someone who ran everywhere as a kid, and I mean everywhere to school, to the shops, around the block for fun, I'm riddled with arthritis...in my hands...my legs are great!

Kids run. Might as well do it safely

Are your family SE Asian ? My MIL/Assorted Aunts would come up with a mind boggling amount of ‘though shalt nots’ .. related to the dcs growing bones. My favourite being , don’t carry baby on your hip or she will have bandi legs .🙄.. but that is as northing compared to the horror that will befall your child if a single drop of rain were to fall on them 🤣.. just trust your instincts and keep it fun. He will be fine

My dd has been doing athletics in a serious way since she was five. (We lived in Australia). She’s nineteen now and her bones are fine as far as I know. She’s a hell of a runner, I know that! It makes her happy too.

Why do you care what she thinks? Do your own research and make your own mind up.

I don’t think running is any way bad for his bone growth plates. I’d be more concerned about him doing too much too soon and getting injured - which is a common issue with adult beginner runners too.

If he mentions any aches or pains, especially in the legs or feet, make sure he has a break from running and most other sports (swimming is often ok though) and get him assessed by a physio if it doesn’t get better within a few days.

Read this OP. Runners World is a very informative magazine and website:

https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/health/g766749/essential-guide-to-childrens-running/

Fortunately for all concerned, she's not his parent so she doesn't get a say.

She is his grandmother and has a right to express her concern.

She has the right to 'express her concern' - even a total stranger has the right to express an opinion, there's no law against it - but that doesn't mean she has to be listened to.

She isn't the child's parent or guardian. She can say whatever she wants but being the child's grandmother doesn't mean her opinion can't be ignored in exactly the same way as you'd ignore the unsolicited advice of a random bloke in the street.

I wish someone had encouraged me into physical activity as a child! I was an overweight child, and overweight teen, and an incredibly overweight adult who was 45 because I was fit enough to run!

Fair enough. But it makes sense to at least consider the opinion of someone who loves your child and has their best interest at heart and asking where they got their ideas from before deciding whether or not to dismiss it out of hand.

Unless he’s running 20km down a mountain I reckon his legs will be alright!

"Thanks, I'll be sure to mention it to the GP next time DS needs to go".

I think it's fine over short distances and better in a structured club aimed at children his age. But I can also sort of see why she's concerned as you do then get a lot of parents taking their children to normal parkrun and encouraging them to run longer distances on tarmac. Competing against children who are older and stronger could also encourage a competitive, talented child to push themselves further than they should. It's a grey area re. development of bones, future injury etc., because it would be quite hard to design an ethical study which tested hypotheses about how much running would damage children's growing bodies. So I would be inclined to err on the side of caution and encourage him into a proper junior athletics pathway that would have strict limits on distance and type of competition.

if you have a qualified coach who knows how much your dc is running, including training and races, then go on.

But it is possible for young dc to run too much in one go, so you need a good coach.

Apparently the activity that causes most injuries to children is football and people are always falling over themselves to encourage playing!

Kids run all over all day! He'll be fine!

Mum of runners here; it's a fantastic, inclusive sport. Much less pressure on the kids than something like football, its all about doing your best individually. The others have said the important stuff, good footwear, short distances at his age. Park run is 2k for juniors, thats enough. But its a lovely sport and a friend for life

I do see a trend i dont like on insta of v youth kids doing 5 and 10k, its a path to burnout. Where we are kids 'long distance' is 600m, maybe a km in cross country. But a good club will know that. As a sport though its great and will also compliment anything else he wants to do.