I witnessed foolishness today

[the old grind]

Well said, Cm. An experienced, youthful operator might understand safe practices, but the kid going along for the ride isn't the one 'driving' and can't be assumed to know them fully. We often put our kids in danger when we expect them to handle situations, or life in general, with OUR accumulated wisdom/experience vs their own.

 

[BenS]

When I was a little guy, my dad rode me around the yard on the old Sears mower. I've passed the tradition on to my sons. My oldest is 6, and he's too big to ride on my Cub Cadet GT2544.

My youngest at 2, is just right to sit on daddy's knee and take a few laps around the house while I'm mowing. We do have a steep back yard, and I make him get off before I tackle that mess.

Its all in moderation and being careful. I find myself being a "helicopter parent" more often than not, so I think it's good to let the kids know their limits around machinery.

My oldest (when he was about 4) had ridden with me one time and I was hosing off the deck when he decided to put his finger on the muffler. I sure heard it from my wife! He learned a valuable lesson that day. I told him several times how hot it was, but he had to see for himself...

 

[fordmantpw]

My oldest (when he was about 4) had ridden with me one time and I was hosing off the deck when he decided to put his finger on the muffler. I sure heard it from my wife! He learned a valuable lesson that day. I told him several times how hot it was, but he had to see for himself...

Some kids have to learn the hard way. Our son is the exact same way. Things like getting burnt on a muffler, I think it's good for them to learn the hard way. It's not going to do any permanent damage, and if it helps then to learn that maybe Dad knows what he is talking about when he says it's hot, the pain is worth it!

 

[two_bit_score]

Some kids have to learn the hard way. Our son is the exact same way. Things like getting burnt on a muffler, I think it's good for them to learn the hard way. It's not going to do any permanent damage, and if it helps then to learn that maybe Dad knows what he is talking about when he says it's hot, the pain is worth it!

We know you arent advocating that its a good idea to inflict pain on kids to make them learn the lessons of life.

 

[Sysop]

We know you arent advocating that its a good idea to inflict pain on kids to make them learn the lessons of life.

Inflict? no, never. Protecting them from reality? no, never. Then they're never prepared for it. In the above mentioned reality: that there is pain in this world, and by not listening to mom and dad the different types and amounts of pain increase. Once they burn themselves once, they will likely never choose to do it again. They also get to learn how to hold ice on it to help prevent it from blistering; another important life lesson. They also get to see how much mom or dad cares, because not only did we warn them, we then must take out time to teach them the proper care for the injury.

The reality of OPs post is, there are no laws against "pushing the limits" of safety, even with our children, nor would most people want them. What is good for one is NOT good for all because all people are different. They have different skills, different opinions, and different luck of the draw. We have laws that will punish those that push those limits too far and cause harm, and that should be enough for people to govern themselves according to their own skills, opinions, and how lucky they happen to feel that day. Without being inside a person's head at the time such a thing is happening, nobody is in a position to make judgments about what is happening. At most a person can form opinions about it, and make judgments about how they will conduct themselves in their own actions.

The saying about "when you fall off a horse you don't get scared and quit, you get back on" has been something said to kids learning to ride as long as man has ridden horses... Does that mean that all the horse owners throughout history don't care for their kids? EVIL evil horse owners, that ground hits awful hard from 15 hands high...

 

[mcgill72143]

I remember getting hurt more playing in the back yard climbing trees, jumping on trampolines, riding my bike, hitting rocks with my bat, thinking I could jump off of a roof with an umbrella (don't ask) :laughing:....I can't remember not one single time I ever got hurt when my dad was watching over me or when he would take me for a ride on the 8n. We made good memories and now that he's gone , these are the things I look back on and remember the most.

 

[fordmantpw]

We know you arent advocating that its a good idea to inflict pain on kids to make them learn the lessons of life.

Nothing outside of the occasional swat on the behind!

 

[two_bit_score]

Nothing outside of the occasional swat on the behind!

:thumbsup:

 

[PeterK]

I admit that I didn't read all of your posts. But the topic strayed a bit with opinions which we all have. My opinion is that it's got nothing to do with kids on tractors, it's about the unexpected. Safety is hard enough but when the unexpected happens, you have to think fast. And having to also think (first) of your loved ones safety, kid, dog, what ever, when you need to make split second decisions from a wheel that hits a hole, a grade that's suddenly too steep, etc is asking too much. Having a child in potentially harms way is not something I want to deal with. We never were blessed with children and I don't know which is worse, not kids or losing one. But no matter what, we need to keep our safety hats on and think ahead or possibly
become a statistic.

 

[Bigkitty]

I admit that I didn't read all of your posts. But the topic strayed a bit with opinions which we all have. My opinion is that it's got nothing to do with kids on tractors, it's about the unexpected. Safety is hard enough but when the unexpected happens, you have to think fast. And having to also think (first) of your loved ones safety, kid, dog, what ever, when you need to make split second decisions from a wheel that hits a hole, a grade that's suddenly too steep, etc is asking too much. Having a child in potentially harms way is not something I want to deal with. We never were blessed with children and I don't know which is worse, not kids or losing one. But no matter what, we need to keep our safety hats on and think ahead or possibly
become a statistic.

It is nice to to have someone truly understand. It could have been an older person hanging on and I would have said the same thing.It is about common sense and safety......If people would stop to think a little, here was a person that only had a new tractor for roughly a week with little to no experience himself and is already doing these types of things.... Just imagine as time goes on what might unfold. I am happy that so many people seem to think that this type of behavior is training for children/adults and get away with it day in and day out.... But the day your child or friend is killed or paralyzed for life, don't expect everyone to be so sympathetic and show up to the spaghetti dinner to raise money so you can plant them.....