Movement as Medicine
Most parents think of strength training as push-ups and little dumbbells. But with kids, it’s so much bigger. It’s body-trust training. It’s “I can do hard things” training. It’s learning their own boundaries and bravery through movement. And yes, the research backs this up in gorgeous ways.
Why Movement Helps Kids Regulate Emotions
A landmark review in Child Development (2015) found that physical activity significantly improves children’s emotional regulation and stress management, thanks in part to the brain changes that movement activates. In kid-friendly terms: When their bodies move, their feelings have somewhere to go.
Gentle strength training; things like animal crawls, resistance bands, sloth-slow balance work, pulling, climbing, controlled pushing builds more than muscle.
It builds:
Resilience
Self-esteem
Emotional release
A deeper sense of “I can handle this.”
Strength training builds nervous system confidence. Kids spend a lot of time being told: “Sit still.” “Quiet hands.” “Don’t climb that.” But their nervous systems are wired for movement. When kids get to push, pull, hang, lift, and use their bodies in safe ways, their brains literally interpret it as safety. When they feel safe, they can regulate.
Let’s be honest: gently rejecting the sit-still culture is an act of love. Our kids don’t need more worksheets. They need more monkey bars. More heavy work. More “Wow, look what your body can do.” The goal isn’t six-packs or athletic performance. Just strong, steady, connected kids who feel at home in their own skin.