Kids using tractors

[Robert_in_NY]

I started my daughter on a mini excavator when she was 4. She took to it instantly. She is now 6 and can drive the atv and she steers the tractors occasionally if she is riding with me. I won't trust her to operate any of them on her own yet and am not sure when I will but she is learning how to run the farm already.

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

The same hand eye relationship is said to exist on a backhoe as computer games controls.

That matches my experience. My 14-year-old nephew, champion of the Playstation, is so good at running the front-end loader that I put him in the seat while I run the hand tools.

 

[jnjpream]

Yeah, I gave my son the controls of the excavator when he was 4.. The first thing he figured out was how to make it rotate. Boy was that a dizzy ride.

 

[Redgoatea]

I supervise my nine and ten year olds on the excavator. The fifteen year old is getting a little solo seat time in the tractor as well.
Now if only I could figure out who taught the two year old how to start the gator and put it in gear. :-(

 

[JoeinTX]

Kids on equipment has more to do with the kid on the unit than the age of the kid.

It's not a bad thing to put a kid on a piece of equipment and see how they go. It's all about the kid's (or adult's) ability to understand their rig, respect the heck out of it, and know when they need to quit before things get worse. The same rules can apply for a 12 year old or a 50 year old. I got my first solo at 9 years old on an old Ford NAA. Fun as all get out and I still have that feeling in my gut. But, very big "but", it also scared the pee out of me. I knew that tractor was bigger and stronger and more capable than me so I'd better not let it get out of my control.

That feeling as a kid has carried its way on through the rest of my life. I love every piece of equipment I get my hands on. I also fear them for the damage they can do me in a heartbeat. Therefore I can be accused of running everything too slow and easy until I have absolute mastery over it and it's dangers. I don't jockey anything.

Learnin' them early, and instilling a serious degree of fear and respect of the machine, is not a bad thing assuming they can physically and mentally handle the rig.

 

[The Haymaker]

I think that is awsome. I think you will recieve some critacism however I feel strongly that you are teaching life skills that too many people lack these days. Good luck to you and your son.

What? Criticism involving kids on this forum? Naahhhhhhhhh........ :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Agree with JoeinTexas. I taught my sons to operate equipment early, but my daughter simply couldn't do it. We have eleven grandchildren and some I would put on a machine and some I wouldn't.

I see nothing wrong with teaching kids to operate equipment if they and you are up to it. Like many others I and my brothers were driving tractor for farming and transportation when we had to stand up to push the pedals. We could live without a running car, but not tractor so we often used it to get groceries.

 

[Soundguy]

Around here, we start 'em as soon as they can sit in the seat and reach the floor. Same goes with farm trucks.

I can remember driving a flatbed thru the hay fields with a ( GASP ) long bud can masking taped to the pedals, driving in granny low down the rows of bailed square hay while my cousin and dad would toss hay bales onto the truck. had to stand up in the floor board and grab onto the dash when I pushed the clutch.. before me, they used a belt to hold the steer wheel straight.

done that in sod and water mellon fields too.

guess that would not be socially acceptable today huh?

soundguy

 

[dieselscout80]

I started when I had to stand up to press the clutch and brakes or change gears on a 35 Ferguson. Both my boys started at about that age. Seat belt fastened would be good idea. Ken Sweet

I was started the same way on a old Ford 2n no floor boards just foor pegs. :thumbsup:
Kids today can be to sheltered, but its better not to push them into it let them decide they are ready and then started them carefully.

 

[TripleR]

I can remember driving a flatbed thru the hay fields with a ( GASP ) long bud can masking taped to the pedals, driving in granny low down the rows of bailed square hay while my cousin and dad would toss hay bales onto the truck. had to stand up in the floor board and grab onto the dash when I pushed the clutch.. before me, they used a belt to hold the steer wheel straight.

done that in sod and water mellon fields too.

guess that would not be socially acceptable today huh?

soundguy

I was on a hay crew for years and our driver was about the same size. On another crew we had the "driver less truck" too when someone failed to show up.