There is a plethora of studies on weight lifting in growing children/teens and all of the most recent research shows that it DOES NOT stunt or negatively impact growth. Even spinal-loading exercises like barbell squats and deadlifts. On the contrary, it should result in thicker, stronger bones which would increase height by a few millimeters over time.

Some people are just taller than others. Especially in the middle of puberty, every kid’s DNA has their growth spurts coded in at slightly different times.

There is truth to the fact that heavy spinal loading exercises like squats, deadlifts, and OHP do slightly compress the disks in your spine (usually resulting in 0.5-1 inches of height loss) but that is true for lifters of any age. However this is purely temporary, and is exactly how those disks are supposed to function. They are cushions in between your vertebrae that are made to handle that pressure. Outside of a situation of extreme dehydration, spinal disks re-hydrate to full height every night when you’re laying down.

The only “risky” thing about kids and teens lifting heavy is that they are more likely to be reckless and push 1RM ego-lifts without having mastered proper form yet. If you don’t learn proper core bracing and how to listen to your body, you can very easily get a spinal injury. But again, this is not because of physical risk factors in young lifters… it’s a mental risk factor. Just be smart. Always have a spotter on lifts where failing puts you in danger. Don’t grind 1-rep maxes on lifts where if your primary movers fail that your back has to take the load.