7 Gyms That Allow Kids & Teens: Prices & Polices Explained

If your child has expressed interest in starting a workout routine or wants to improve their fitness for a sport they play, joining a gym can help get them started.

However, many gyms don't allow children and teens, or they have strict rules, or they don't have memberships for them.

That's why I went to more than 15 of the popular gyms in my area in New Jersey to check this out and review them.

Here are the 7 best gyms that allow kids and teens:

1. Planet Fitness
2. YMCA
3. 24 Hour Fitness
4. Gold's Gym
5. Life Time Fitness
6. Crunch Fitness
7. Equinox

In this article, I discuss each of these gyms in more detail and provide information. This includes minimum age requirements and pricing for minors. I'll also provide some general rules for taking kids to the gym, the benefits of exercise for children and teens, and tips for keeping your kids safe when they start a workout routine.

7 Best Gyms That Allow Kids and Teens

1. Planet Fitness

• Minimum age requirement: 13 to sign up with a parent or legal guardian; 15 to work out unsupervised with a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian

• Membership discounts for minors? No (but teens aged 15-18 can work out for free from May 15 through September 1).

Planet Fitness is ideal for teens to establish a routine and start a fitness regimen. It’s affordable and beginner-friendly, so it’s a good option for teens to learn how to act in a gym environment.

For several years, Planet Fitness has even offered free memberships to teenagers aged 15 to 18 from May 15 through September 1. Check out their Summer Pass for more info.

Planet Fitness doesn’t have barbells or very heavy dumbbells. I normally consider this a huge drawback, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for a teenager who doesn’t have any training experience. They can use some machines and light dumbbells to get used to working out and won’t be tempted to try to lift weights that are too heavy for them.

One thing to be mindful of is that Planet Fitness is not very tolerant of people making loud noises in the gym, whether they’re grunting or making a lot of noise when using the equipment. If you think your teen isn’t mature enough not to goof off in the gym, you’ll need to watch them closely.

Considering a gym visit? Our article on the Planet Fitness day pass provides all the information you need to know for a one-day gym experience. I also compared Planet Fitness against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, YMCA, and Fit4less.

2. YMCA

• Minimum age requirement: Varies; memberships for kids as young as 6 months are available, but children have to be 15-16 to work out unsupervised

• Membership discounts for minors? Cheaper memberships available for youth

The YMCA is another excellent gym for kids and teens. It has membership options for kids as young as 6 months and family membership options. Most YMCA locations have free weights, selectorized machines, cardio machines, and amenities like swimming pools and basketball courts, so your child can try various exercises.

The YMCA is also a family-friendly organization, and your teen will likely see other young people using the gym or doing other activities at the facilities. This can ensure they’re not turned off from working out because they don’t want to be surrounded by adults or senior citizens.

Signing up your teen for the YMCA also grants them access to camps, youth sports leagues, and performing arts programs. Exposure to multiple activities can help them find something they’re passionate about and meet other kids their age.

For more gyms with pools, check out the full list. I also compared the YMCA against top gyms, including Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness.

3. 24 Hour Fitness

• Minimum age requirement: 12; whether or not adult supervision is required varies by location

• Membership discounts for minors? No (though high school students can go to 24 Hour Fitness for free during the summer months)

24 Hour Fitness has many cardio machines, free weights, and selectorized machines that kids can use. Children and teens can also take advantage of the many amenities 24 Hour Fitness offers, such as the basketball courts, pools, and group classes.

High school children can even use 24-Hour Fitness facilities for free during the summer months.

If you sign your child up for a membership at any other time of the year, you have to pay the same rate for them that you’d pay as an adult (which starts at $35 per month, depending on the location).

24 Hour Fitness allows children between the ages of 12 and 17 to work out without adult supervision, though some locations do require children to be accompanied by an adult. A parent or legal guardian must have signed a membership agreement along with the child who wants to use the facilities.

Kids under the age of 12 aren’t allowed unless they’re in the Kids Club (a childcare service that 24 Hour Fitness offers) or participating in a youth program at the gym.

I also compared 24 Hour Fitness head-to-head against similar gyms, including Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, and Life Time Fitness.

4. Gold’s Gym

• Minimum age requirement: 12 (must be accompanied by an adult)

• Membership discounts for minors? Yes, family add-ons available for discounted rates (varies by location)

Gold’s Gym is known as a bodybuilding gym, but it welcomes people of all skill sets and ages, including children and teens. An adult must join and sign a membership agreement, and then you can add a child to your plan for a discounted rate.

Exact prices vary by location, but adding a minor can cost as little as $10 more monthly. A regular membership can cost $54 monthly or more, depending on the location, so this is a huge savings!

An adult must accompany children between 12 and 16, but they can start working independently once they turn 17. A parent or legal guardian must also sign a membership agreement on behalf of the minor.

Gold’s Gym has many cardio and strength training equipment, basketball courts, boxing rings, group classes, and yoga studios. This gives teens just starting a fitness journey plenty of options to choose from as they experiment with different types of workouts until they find one they enjoy.

I also compared Gold's Gym against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, and Planet Fitness.

5. Life Time Fitness

• Minimum age requirement: Varies; 16 at most locations to work out unsupervised and 12 to work out with adult supervision. Waivers signed by a parent or legal guardian are also required for children under 16.

• Membership discounts for minors? Children aged 3 months to 13 years can be added to a plan for 25% or more off the cost of an adult membership. Junior memberships are also available at some locations.

At Life Time Fitness, you can add children as young as 3 months to your monthly plan. Some locations also offer junior memberships, though they can only be added to an adult membership plan. Learn more about child care at Life Time Fitness.

Life Time Fitness is great for kids and teens because there are a ton of sports and activities they can participate in, including basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. There are kids studio classes for children ages 3-8 and daycare, sensory classes, and story time for kids 3 and under.

It’s an excellent gym where children of all ages can learn the importance of exercise and see how much fun it can be.

Life Time Fitness is our favorite gym with an indoor track, and if you like running indoors, check out the other options. I also compared Life Time Fitness against similar gyms like LA Fitness and Planet Fitness.

6. Crunch Fitness

• Minimum age requirement: 13-16 (varies by location)

• Membership discounts for minors? No

Crunch Fitness is an excellent gym for children and teens because it has a bright and energetic atmosphere, which gives off a youthful vibe.

You must sign up your child with their membership at most locations instead of adding them to your plan. Policies about children vary by location, but most clubs allow teens 13 and older to work out with adult supervision.

Crunch Fitness has cardio machines, free weights, selectorized machines, and turf areas. Teens can also take group classes led by positive, motivating instructors. If your kid is self-conscious about working out in front of other people or too busy to get to the gym because of schoolwork or other activities, they can stream classes from home.

I also compared Crunch Fitness against other popular gyms like Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness.

7. Equinox

• Minimum age requirement: 15 to workout with adult supervision

• Membership discounts for minors? No

Equinox doesn’t allow member add-ons, so you’ll have to purchase a separate membership for your child, which can run you another $200 or more monthly. But it has plenty of cardio and strength training equipment, yoga studios, pools, and basketball courts at some locations, so kids can choose from various workouts.

Teens at least 15 can work out as long as an adult is with them.

Equinox also offers hundreds of classes per week that teens may enjoy taking. The classes are taught by fun, engaging instructors, which can help a teen stay motivated to work out.

With a membership, your child can stream classes virtually, which is a great feature for teens with busy schedules or those who don’t have transportation options to get to the gym.

Equinox is another one of the best gyms with childcare, so read the full review if you have kids. I also compared Equinox against similar gyms like LA Fitness and Life Time Fitness.

What Are the Rules for Taking Kids and Teens to the Gym?

Let's start with the rules. When you find gyms that allow kids, you'll want to make sure you're invited back. That should be pretty easy. Just respect the gym facilities and stay safe.

For the most part, children between the ages of 12 and 16 are allowed to work out in a gym. However, they need to be supervised by a parent or legal guardian. Some gyms will require you to sign a waiver for a teen who's around the age of 15 if you are okay with them working out unsupervised.

It’s also important to note that at some gyms, children and teens are allowed to use only the cardio machines and aren’t allowed to use the free weights and weight machines.

That said, each gym has different policies when it comes to kids and teens, and the minimum age requirements and rules about which equipment they can use vary. Many policies are also not universal and vary by location. It’s best to contact the gym you’re interested in bringing your child to so you can ask about their policies regarding minors.

Do Gyms Offer Discounted Pricing for Teens?

Some gyms have family plans that enable you, a spouse, and your children to sign up under one plan. At others, you can simply add your child to your membership for a rate that can be 25% cheaper (or more) than the price of an adult membership. However, exact pricing varies by gym.

That said, most gyms don’t allow anyone under the age of 18 to sign up for a membership on their own. Some gyms like the YMCA have memberships specifically for teens, but a parent or legal guardian must be present during the sign-up process and sign a membership agreement on behalf of the child.

Many gyms do offer student discounts for college students, however. Learn more about the top 5 gyms for college students.

Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe and Happy While Working Out

As I discussed earlier, there’s nothing wrong with letting kids work out as long as they’re using equipment properly and not pushing themselves past their limits. But beyond safety, happiness should also be a concern since your child will be more likely to stick with a workout routine if they genuinely enjoy it.

Below are 5 tips for keeping kids both safe and happy while working out:

• Don’t let them work out unsupervised
• Ask for help from a coach or personal trainer
• Make sure they eat enough
• Help them find an activity they enjoy
• Don’t make negative comments about their body

1. Don’t Let Them Work Out Unsupervised

There’s a reason why gyms don’t allow kids under certain ages to work out without adult supervision. Teens don’t always have the best judgment and tend to think they’re invincible. This is what can lead to the injuries that make people believe working out is dangerous for children.

As I explained above, most gyms require a parent or legal guardian to supervise their child on the gym floor. They can also work out with a qualified personal trainer if you can afford one for your child.

However, even if you find a gym that doesn’t require adult supervision for children, I recommend keeping a close eye on your kid to ensure they’re using machines properly, lifting with proper form, and not trying to lift weights they’re incapable of lifting.

2. Ask for Help from a Coach or Personal Trainer

You may have found a workout split that works for you and gives you the desired results, but that same routine may not work for your child, especially if he or she has different goals.

It may be frustrating to feel like you don’t know what’s best for your child, but if you’re unsure how to get them safely started on a workout regimen, don’t be afraid to ask for help. This is especially important if your child is normally sedentary because you don’t want them to do too much too soon.

A qualified personal trainer at the gym or a strength and conditioning coach can work with you and your child to create a workout plan that’s enjoyable, safe, and effective for someone who’s still growing and developing.

To find out which gyms are best for personal training, check out 9 Best Gyms With Trainers (And, How Not To Get Ripped Off).

3. Make Sure They Eat Enough

Instilling good nutritional habits in teens when they start working out is important. Not only will they need fuel for their workouts, but they’ll also need enough food to support their growth and any other sports or activities they may be involved in.

It’s recommended that active teenage girls eat at least 2,000 calories and active teenage boys eat at least 2,600-2,800 calories a day. But you don’t need to worry about ensuring they’re hitting these exact calorie goals. Calorie counting can lead to disordered eating habits in teens.

It’s more important to ensure they’re eating at least 3-4 well-rounded meals per day with a protein, a carb, and a fat source at each meal.

Ensuring they have access to healthy snacks like Greek yogurt with fruit and hummus with vegetables in between meals can help ensure they consume enough calories and vitamins and minerals daily.

If your child is struggling with their diet, it’s best to get help from a registered dietitian.

4. Help Them Find an Activity They Enjoy

Getting your child to work out at all is great, but it’s also important to help them find a workout routine they enjoy. Forcing them to do something they don’t want to do will likely instill negative feelings towards exercise and make them less likely to stick with it.

You may love powerlifting, for example, but your teen may prefer cycling or running. Plus, teens long for independence and don’t like being told what to do. Give them control over their workouts by encouraging them to try different things until they find something they like.

5. Don’t Make Negative Comments About Their Body

Teens don’t always have high self-esteem and are pressured by peers and the media to look a certain way. It won’t help their self-confidence if you keep telling your child they need to exercise to lose weight.

Even if your child is overweight, you don’t want them to resent their workouts or view exercise as only something that should be done to achieve an end goal (i.e., to lose weight).

This is part of why your child needs to find an activity they enjoy, as I discussed above. It will help them view exercise as something fun rather than a punishment.

Furthermore, one of the best ways to show your child the importance of working out is to be a role model yourself. If you’re not already doing so, consider starting a workout routine. Even if your child doesn’t want to work out with you, seeing you prioritize exercise can motivate them to do the same.

Other Gym Membership Resources

• 5 Best Gyms for Seniors
• 11 Best Gyms With Classes
• 7 Best Gyms With Basketball Courts
• ​​12 Best Gyms With Childcare
• 10 Best Gyms With Pools, Saunas, & Hot Tubs
• 8 Best Gyms With Tanning
• 14 Gyms With Free Passes & Trials
• Best Gyms for Beginners

References

1. NHLBI. Parent Tips: Calories Needed Each Day [Internet]. 2012. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/downloads/calreqtips.pdf
2. Levinson CA, Fewell L, Brosof LC. My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders. Eating Behaviors. 2017 Dec;27:14–6. ‌‌

About The Author

Amanda is a writer and editor in the fitness and nutrition industries. Growing up in a family that loved sports, she learned the importance of staying active from a young age. She started CrossFit in 2015, which led to her interest in powerlifting and weightlifting. She's passionate about helping women overcome their fear of lifting weights and teaching them how to fuel their bodies properly. When she's not training in her garage gym or working, you can find her drinking coffee, walking her dog, or indulging in one too many pieces of chocolate.