Eventually, someone’s going to bring up the outdated notion that kids shouldn’t lift weights because it will stunt their growth. Hmm. I’ve got a number of sarcastic answers to that but it’s probably best that you answer with science. The National Strength & Conditioning Association is the recognized authority on strength training in America. Not the American Medical Association; they’re better suited for things like disease treatment. The NSCA has published a position paper on Youth Strength Training which I could summarize but I prefer to simply post a link to it here. Use this any time someone tells you that it’s perfectly okay for little Johnny to carry out a twenty pound trash bag and charge full speed into another kid on the football field but not to lift ten pound dumbbells or squat a 45lb bar.