Farming is considered by the National Safety Council as one of America's most hazardous occupations. Each year family farm members are injured or die due to farm-related incidents. A large number of children are reflected in these tragedies.

       How do we prevent these injuries and fatalities from taking place to our next generation of farmers? A combination of education, improved engineering, and enforced regulation are all needed to prohibit unnecessary injuries on the farm. As a parent all three factors are your responsibility. You can make sure equipment is safe for your children to operate and you can enforce all safety rules with consequences. But, one of the biggest impacts you can have on your child's behavior is in proper education and training.

       How do you get the message of safety across without sounding "preachy"? Make the experience fun. Most kids want to be involved. Use that to your advantage. Take into consideration your child's physical, mental and emotional abilities to determine when to teach children about a specific task. Many accidents occur when a child is doing something that is beyond his or her ability. After deciding your child is ready to be taught a task, gradually guide the child through the safe way of doing the assignment. Keep the conversation light and informative, not rigid while still stressing the importance of following "all the rules".

       You can help prevent children from getting hurt on the farm by providing safety information and training to your kids. Often children learn best by seeing, touching, doing and having fun in the process. If you are in the teaching role for either your own kids or others there are many teaching tools and demonstrations that can help young learners understand the concepts of safety on the farm. Demonstrations are available to show the dangers of grain handling and the resulting entrapment and suffocation that can occur. Toy tractors and inclined boards help adolescents comprehend the importance of driving large equipment safely. Puppet show packets encourage children to put on their own performance of farm safety.

       Farm Safety 4 Just Kids is an organization that provides many educational items. Farm Safety 4 Just Kids makes effective use of simple, child-friendly props, displays and demonstrations.

       If you would like to have more information how you can make farm safety education and training fun call the Western Illinois Chapter in Pittsfield at 217-285-2891 or the International Office of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids at 1-800-423-5437.