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Expert Q&A

	By Melanie Wilson Vegetarian Cooking and Lifestyle Expert

Should strength training be a solo regimen for kids or a family affair?

When strength training is taken up as part of a family endeavor, the benefits are twofold: Children learn proper technique and healthful behaviors from their primary role models – parents – and they automatically get the supervision they need. You can start even when children are very young, allowing them to observe with their crayons and coloring book from a safe corner while you train. Later, they will simply be going through the motions, imitating you while learning the basics. The first thing for parents to remember is that the focus should be on proper form and technique, not weight. The second role parents can play is to downplay how much weight can be lifted.

Until kids hit their teens, the focus is really on gaining strength, not size, and instilling good exercise habits. Working out with weights and machines isn't even necessary in the beginning. For average-sized children the first and best workout may just be a simple calisthenics program. The weight of the body itself can provide enough resistance to work the muscles and increase strength (squats, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, leg raises, etc.), though these may be too difficult for an overweight child. The family can also do partner exercises and use resistance bands, ankle and wrist weights, or machines designed especially for young people.

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