Little kid strength.

[rift]

Hey Rip,
As my kid approaches his first birthday, I can’t help but think about his future childhood. I believe it will be important to teach him the importance of strength at an early age to the degree so he might look upon and respect it in a way that could be considered almost cultural. I am wondering how soon and how to implement something in order to not make it into a tedious ordeal. I liked what you had to say about it at the end of SS-2nd Ed., perhaps you could recommend a respected author (I’ve seen you lambast some authors) on the subject as well.
Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

There is no respected author on the subject, which is why I bitch constantly. As for implementing a program, I'd wait until he can at least discuss it with you intelligently. Couple of years, anyway.

[mlentzner]

rift,

Just be strong and your son will learn. Lead by example.

Matt

[FatButWeak]

I encouraged my daughter to do the monkey bars and she now has incredible grip, arm and back strength for her age and size, all of which helps her make other kids cry in martial arts. She knows strength is critical. Just joking around as a family one day I asked the kids what superpower they would want. She said strength. I asked her, "Even over flying?" She said, "Yeah, what use is that?!"

My kids are all under age ten. Just encourage aggressive, violent play and they will devlop an appreciation for strength.

[Tiburon]

We made this barbell set for my son's 2nd birthday.

finnreps2.JPG

[TomF]

rift,

Just be strong and your son will learn. Lead by example.

Matt

Yep. And when he's starting to have fun doing somersaults etc. as a 3 year old, get him into gymnastics if he's at all inclined. Though they think they're just having fun, I've seen 8 year olds doing silly-strong things in tumbling, and on rings and P-bars.

[EvanJones]

When he is about 5 get him into wrestling. Combine that with lifting and A) he will never be picked on in school (Scratch that. He will never be picked on in school, twice) and B) college will be payed for.

[Michael Liao]

Lets see here: A red, blue, yellow, gre... HOLY! That's 198#!

[forgeforth]

rift,

Just be strong and your son will learn. Lead by example.

Matt

I strongly agree with this. As a kid I was always in awe of my father's superior grip strength. He is untrained, but worked hardcore labour for most of his life. Even something like that you remember and admire. The fact that your son has a father who values strength is enough, I think. It'll rub off and by the time he's a teenager he'll gravitate toward the barbell, almost naturally. Don't underestimate the value of leading by example.

[wal]

Grip strength! What are you talking about? Dad and me had handshake contests when I was in my teens, guess who lost the squeeze contest? Me, that is what you get from milking cows on the dairy before the milking machines came in.