Play

Each year, more than 100 children are killed and nearly 12,000 are seriously injured on U.S. farms. The highest rate of injuries involves children younger than 10 years old who were playing in the worksite. To prevent these injuries, create, use, and maintain a safe play area on your farm. More information is available below.

Leading Causes of Injury to Non-Working Children on Farms

Deaths

Runover as bystander
Runover as passenger
Drowning

Hospitalized Injury

Fall from heights
Machinery entanglement
Animal (falls, struck by, crushed by)

Medically Treated Injury

Animal (falls, struck by, crushed by)
Falls from heights

Preventing Injuries to Non-Working Children

Prohibit access to the farm worksite

Arrange off-farm childcare
- A roadmap for delivering child care in agricultural communities
- Don’t mix worksite and child care
Build a safe play area

Keep kids away from tractors

Install passive physical barriers

Fence water hazards
Install fall protection in haylofts
Fence animal enclosures
Install barriers around machinery and vehicle compounds
Build a safe play area

Institute safe storage practices

Don’t lean large objects (tires, water troughs, etc) against walls
Put away tools and sharps

Identify child care alternatives

Arrange off-farm childcare
- A roadmap for delivering child care in agricultural communities
- Don’t mix worksite and child care
Arrange in-home childcare

Develop and enforce consistent rules for recreational activities

ATV Information
Horses and riding activities

Safe Play

Playing is an important means for children to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Different types of play activities influence these attributes of development. An ideal play area blends activities matched to the developmental stages and abilities of children. Click the thumbnails below to learn more.

How to Use Resources (English)