Can All Farm Jobs Be Made Kid-Safe?
The simple answer is no. Safety and child development experts strongly recommend that children be at least 12 or 13 before they begin to learn how to operate machines. Federal and state laws back this up by making it illegal to hire children under 16 to operate tractors or to perform other hazardous jobs off the family farm. This age requirement may be higher in some states. But children can be taught to recognize and avoid hazards common to most farmsteads. Through safety day camps, kids can learn good safety habits that will stick with them once they’re old enough to operate machines and drive the tractor.
