When are kids old enough to start operating tractor?

[JimmytheSaint]

This little guy's only 4!

 

[boggen]

the problem with kids. is panic mode. and not knowing what to do when something does happen. experience goes a long ways. so does actual physically reaching and having muscle to do things. along with being able to see around you.

i know i have had to learn things the "hard way" a few to many times. and scars to show for them. and many others that have not left scares.

it can be down right time consuming at times. and then end up being the "nag" of be careful, watch out for this and that. and going over all the controls each time before getting on. and what would they do if X or Y or Z happened.

many folks just need the "experience" i say folks including kids and adults alike. and not fully understanding limits of a machine. and what could happen. all it takes is a brief moment.

getting folks out of taking the "short cuts", and trying to keep themselves occupied say radio head phones or like vs being bored and doing what needs to be done. or perhaps wearing flip flops vs actual shoes.

 

[Jlillie2]

I think at that age they really do absorb more than we give them credit for, sure they are not real big on understanding the bigger picture, but then again, I don't understand politics. (And the four year old will eventually understand what you mean by "pinch point'. B-) I think due to video games, and their associated controllers these kids do have an advantage over us old dogs, we had to learn over time what stick does what, and most of these kids have already played a game that simulates this.

 

[boggen]

i remember seeing some sort of "farm game" or "tractor game" a couple years back, i want to say from john deere. it was in the "cheap game stack area" for only a couple bucks. wondering if it would go through any tractor doings and safety and like?

 

[Jlillie2]

i remember seeing some sort of "farm game" or "tractor game" a couple years back, i want to say from john deere. it was in the "cheap game stack area" for only a couple bucks. wondering if it would go through any tractor doings and safety and like?

My grandson has an excavator game on his iTouch that was free "Excavator 2.0", and its amazingly realistic. He plays that when hes not operating my Takeuchi TB25. B-)

 

[nuffer460]

That, in itself, is a loaded question. I spent my summers on my Grandparents farm. When my grandfather and or Uncle needed help. If you could do the job. You were pressed into service. For me and my cousin it started about age 10. My cousin would steer the Studibaker flatbed and I would work the pedals. As we got older and could operate the tractors. We got the job. The big thing is we were always suppervised. Now days, is a whole nother issue. Child Labor laws prohibit opperating machinery. I think it's ashame, but I see adults that should never be on a tractor also.

 

[Jlillie2]

Jims Excavator #12 - six year old Dan operating the Takeuchi - YouTube
This was a video I shot of my grandson when he was six (His first time operating the excavator) I shot it for his mother so she could see what he does when he comes up to visit gramp.) This wasn't his first safety instruction on the excavator, just a refresher. They have excellent muscle memory at this age, but anything past that can't be taken for granted. If you notice, in my safety briefing, I let him know in no uncertain terms that the safety lock must be disengaged before leaving the seat, or you will get a foot cut off by the turn table. (Not likely unless you are 7' tall or so, but not impossible either.) I am always right out of camera range, and he is secured in the machine. Not much he can do to actually injure himself in there, and he has instituted our emergency shut down a couple of times when he was unsure of something. When it doubt, cut it out.

 

[Qapla]

When kids are 8,9,10 they are already trying to jump their bikes over all sorts of things, riding them down steps or even the metal handrail. Before long (or at the same time) they are doing the same thing on skateboards. They will ride the skateboard down one side of a "half-pipe" (or whatever they call it) and up the other side launching themselves high in the air while twisting and spinning before coming back down. They do not always have a smooth landing.

They also start doing the x-game type things on motorized bikes while still quite young and each year the things they do get even more extreme.

Some of the divers at the Olympics are in their teens. To get that good at the 10 M platform (that's nearly 40' above the water) they did not just start last year. They have been diving like that for several years. Let's see - in the Olympics at 16 with at least 4 years of training means they were throwing themselves 40' down into the water since they were 12 or younger. And, when they started, they were not landing the dive as smooth as they are now. According to one of the commentators, they hit the water at 35MPH.

Kids are playing tackle football from Pop Warner on - sure they where pads, but they do not prevent concussions, as has been in the news lately. Plus, when they live where it is Hockey or Soccer, they are not wearing all that much protective gear.

But, since these things are not "tractors" no one seems to mind or argue that they are too young to be doing/learning/trying them.

 

[Jlillie2]

Yea, I would love to see a study of sports related v:s family farm related injury/death. I'm betting the family farm is a lot safer....

 

[RaydaKub]

Excellent point, Qapla.

 

[yelbike]

Excellent point, Qapla.

Thats why I started this tread.
My 9 year old is starting on the tractors, his a very cautious one. Always setting the speed as slow as he can.

My fear is I'm a great guy for teaching my kids things but god forbid, something bad happens, then all of a sudden I'm the "worst dad in the world for allowing such a young child to operate a tractor, its child labour..... blah blah blah. " I know how things can be twisted around.

 

[Darrenone]

Thats why I started this tread.
My 9 year old is starting on the tractors, his a very cautious one. Always setting the speed as slow as he can.

My fear is I'm a great guy for teaching my kids things but god forbid, something bad happens, then all of a sudden I'm the "worst dad in the world for allowing such a young child to operate a tractor, its child labour..... blah blah blah. " I know how things can be twisted around.

I do what I feel is right for me and my child. My boy has been operating my backhoe by himself ( with me standing close by) since he was four. He is five now and is pretty good at it. He also drives my Yamaha 350 four wheeler by himself and is very good at that. My tractor has gears so he doesn't drive that alone yet but he does drive my fathers hydrostatic L5030. ( ? ) He can also drive a bulldozer and mini excavator with me sitting with him. He is a very cautious kid and we go over the safety issues each time. He understands that equipment are not toys and can be very dangerous. I do realize that this is not the norm and when people see him or hear about him operating, I often hear their criticism. Even from my mother. But again, I do what I feel is right for my child. Every kid is different for sure.
Darren

 

[Qapla]

... I do realize that this is not the norm and when people see him or hear about him operating, I often hear their criticism...

Not sure why this is not the "norm" ... perhaps not for city folks, but for farm folks, it is the norm.

Funny how those same people that you hear the criticism from would be perfectly OK if you had him enrolled in a Judo/Karate class or POP-Warner or some other sport. They would probably not object if was riding a 2-wheel bicycle withOUT training wheels or learning to skateboard.

And, no one seems to mind kids that age being in the kitchen learning to cook - stoves are hot and knives are sharp.

 

[Qapla]

... I do realize that this is not the norm and when people see him or hear about him operating, I often hear their criticism...

Not sure why this is not the "norm" ... perhaps not for city folks, but for farm folks, it is the norm.

Funny how those same people that you hear the criticism from would be perfectly OK if you had him enrolled in a Judo/Karate class or POP-Warner or some other sport. They would probably not object if was riding a 2-wheel bicycle withOUT training wheels or learning to skateboard.

And, no one seems to mind kids that age being in the kitchen learning to cook - stoves are hot and knives are sharp.

Don't let what others say or think change what you do or say when there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Yes, it is tragic when a child gets hurt or killed but that can happen riding in the car going to church or the store ... in fact it happens much more in the car then on the tractor ... but you don't here people saying how bad it is to let our kids ride in the car.

 

[njc110381]

As soon as you feel the kid is mature enough to handle the responsibility and they can reach and understand the controls then let them go for it. Kids learn faster than adults!

I never really had access to this sort of kit as a child but my father used to drive a little Massey tractor and tow a trailer from the age of being old enough to press the clutch down! Apparently he had to get off of the seat and stand on it at first but he got the job done and never broke anything!

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I suspect some of you whose young kids are operating newer tractors may have disabled some safety features...
My almost 9-year-old 60lb grandson wants to help by driving, but on my BX24 or TG1860, he can't keep enough weight on the seat and reach the hydrostat pedal... so the engine cuts out on him. And my wife says no way am I disabling those seat switches !!!
I don't see too much of a problem with hydrostatic trannys, where the machine stops when you move your foot off the pedal, but I would hesitate letting a young one run a gear tractor where he'd have to put his weight on the clutch pedal to stop the unit.

Pete

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I suspect some of you whose young kids are operating newer tractors may have disabled some safety features...
My almost 9-year-old 60lb grandson wants to help by driving, but on my BX24 or TG1860, he can't keep enough weight on the seat and reach the hydrostat pedal... so the engine cuts out on him. And my wife says no way am I disabling those seat switches !!!
I don't see too much of a problem with hydrostatic trannys, where the machine stops when you move your foot off the pedal, but I would hesitate letting a young one run a gear tractor where he'd have to put his weight on the clutch pedal to stop the unit.

Pete

 

[jenkinsph]

I think by the time they are 35 or so they should be mature enough to use your tractor. Hopefully they will have a job and can pay for whatever they tear up.:laughing:

 

[yelbike]

I suspect some of you whose young kids are operating newer tractors may have disabled some safety features...
My almost 9-year-old 60lb grandson wants to help by driving, but on my BX24 or TG1860, he can't keep enough weight on the seat and reach the hydrostat pedal... so the engine cuts out on him. And my wife says no way am I disabling those seat switches !!!
I don't see too much of a problem with hydrostatic trannys, where the machine stops when you move your foot off the pedal, but I would hesitate letting a young one run a gear tractor where he'd have to put his weight on the clutch pedal to stop the unit.

Pete

Sorry Pete to dissapoint, but I did not do anything to the seat switch. I does go out from time to time but thats ok. He can start it and try again.

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

no disappointment here... I apologize if it sounded like an accusation, it was intended only as an observation.
I grew up on a farm, and I realize that youngsters do operate equipment on the farm, often out of necessity.
As long as we do all we can to protect the young ones !
I just can't imagine the grief that comes with having a child hurt by machinery.

Pete