As the school year ends and children spend more time around the farm this summer, a Kansas State University safety expert is encouraging families to review safety practices for all ages.

From toddlers to teenagers, experts say every stage of childhood brings unique safety considerations to agricultural environments.

“Growing up on a farm can be a great experience,” said Tawnie Larson, program manager for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at K-State.

Larson said farm life helps teach responsibility, work ethic and independence at an early age.

“A lot of farm kids are really prepared to go into the workforce because they’ve been out there and know the responsibilities it takes,” she said.

Larson noted that agriculture is an entirely different home environment than anything else.

“Agriculture is one of the only industries where we live and work in the same place,” Larson said.

Because of that, children are often exposed to equipment, livestock and other workplace hazards from an early age.

For babies and young children, Larson said hearing protection and limiting exposure to machinery are important considerations.

“Hearing is a big one,” she said. “Even short bursts of loud noise can affect their fragile ears and auditory systems.”

Larson also encouraged parents to create designated safe play areas for toddlers and younger children that are separated from equipment and active workspaces.

“It’s important to create a safe play area on the farm for kids,” Larson said.

She also emphasized that grain bins and grain carts should never be treated as play areas.

“Allowing kids to play in grain kind of sets up an unsafe message that it’s okay to play in grain, and it really is never okay,” Larson said.

As children grow older and begin helping more with farm work, Larson said proper training becomes increasingly important.

“We do have a youth tractor and machinery training program through K-State Extension,” she said.

Larson added that ATV and UTV safety training opportunities are also available through extension programs across Kansas.

In addition to training, Larson said parents and grandparents play a key role in modeling safe behavior for younger generations.

“If parents or grandparents are doing things that are unsafe, that’s not setting up a very successful culture and habits of safety,” Larson said.

Larson also encourages every farm family to establish an emergency response plan and regularly discuss procedures with children.

“Every farm needs to have an emergency plan,” she said.

More information and youth farm safety resources are available through the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at K-State and from local extension offices.