how young is too young?

After work today I headed to the gym for my evening workout and as I was passing the weights, heading upstairs to the elliptical machine, something caught my attention... a young boy, maybe 11 years old, was bench pressing more weight than I for sure can.

This posed the question - how young is too young to let your kids workout at the gym?

I am all about kid fitness. Running around outside, playing a friendly game of soccer, becoming the 5th grade kickball champ (that would be me my BBs)... but these all seem "normal" and "safe" for the most part (to me). But to lift weights? Really? I just don't know about that one... Kids are suppose to be just that, KIDS. I am going to completely ignore the facts of muscles not yet developed and what not and go straight to the argument of YOU ARE A KID! Just a little baby - Where is your childhood going and what is flying through your brain that makes you think you already have to worry about working out and I pray to GOD you are not thinking about your body image...

I am not trying to get on a soap box by any means - I was just... shaken...

So again I ask,

how young is too young?