My 13 year old started lifting with dad!

My son just turned 13 in September. We started lifting together about 2 months ago. Little shit is going to be taking plates off for me by the time he's 15!

He's 5'7" 141lbs (was 152 before football conditioning). He started out comfortably benching about 90lbs. Last week he was benching 130 for reps.

We are schooling alot on form, form, form at the moment. He is coming along nicely (all weights and body parts)....little shit has better genetics than I do! Not pressing him on his diet at this point because he never stops eating and his test levels are the normal greasy sweaty pimply (easily embarrassed) teen boy!

What are your thoughts on a 13 year old dead lifting and squatting (with excellent form and about 60-70% 1RM? The old school Weider guys say not to do Deads & squats as a teen.....all thoughts and or oppinions are appreciated!
- Mike

I think it's great. Physical culture should be ingrained from an early age. If all kids had parents that brought them to the gym and bought them how to lift and eat obesity wouldn't be the deadly epidemic it is today. Kudos!

That is great. I really like it when I see kids working out with there dads and hope when mine are old enough they will do the same. My dad always did stuff with me like that as a kid and it is memories I will never forget.

I can't wait ethier tell my boys are old anuff to go to the gym with me.. My six year old boy can't wait.. Wat do you gust think is a good age to start.. I was thinking around 12..

As long as he's not overdoing it, he's fine. Compound movements are going to be the best way for him to get a good foundation. I wouldn't let him max out until he's around 16 so he doesn't damage his central nervous system by overdoing it, but I think it's great man. I wish I had started lifting at that age. I only did push ups, pull ups, sit ups and used a speed bag at that age to gain strength for sports, but he'll be far above the rest by the time he hits 15-16 yrs old...

The best thing is that he's learning from you and not some of his friends that don't know how to do things with proper form, that's the biggest key for him to really make strides

I appreciate the input guys. His 10 year old brother is chomping at the bit and felt kind of left out, so I'm doing abs and light cardio on off days with him now....God, I hate cardio!

My rule is 12 years old to start strength training and that's strict form and not pushing too hard...nice gradual gains.

I had mixed feelings on the deads/squats....but I think that they are two of the most important exercises overall so, I wanted to include them....but ultimately, his health/safety is the biggest priority and we all know that bad form in either of these movements can seriously cause problems!

recon said:

I appreciate the input guys. His 10 year old brother is chomping at the bit and felt kind of left out, so I'm doing abs and light cardio on off days with him now....God, I hate cardio!

My rule is 12 years old to start strength training and that's strict form and not pushing too hard...nice gradual gains.

I had mixed feelings on the deads/squats....but I think that they are two of the most important exercises overall so, I wanted to include them....but ultimately, his health/safety is the biggest priority and we all know that bad form in either of these movements can seriously cause problems!

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You hit the nail on the head- safety is the most importance. I think if you stress form, that is the key to getting it right- Plus I would rather teach my son the proper form with squats and deads - I can tell you I had crappy form when I learned them in middle school and for years I thought I was right.

He's definitely better learning form from you than a high school coach that has no interest in his future. Once he learns the necessary form instruction from you, it'll stick with him and he'll be FAR ahead in high school because all the other kids will end up hurting themselves listening to some knucklehead that thinks he knows something about lifting

We were watching netflix the other day....kind of off topic, but not....We stumbled upon the "bigger, stronger, faster" documentary.

After the flick, he asked me what I thought about anabolics and I was honest with him. He asked me if/when he could use AAS.....we had a pretty lengthy conversation about adolescence, peak of puberty, advantages of being him right now, diet, supplements and decided on him asking me again at 25.

I researched gear for two years before I ever even tried to find any gear. I learned alot here 10 years ago!

Anybody else get hit with this one by your kids yet?

No kids for me, but I think you handled it right by being honest with him