Managing children!

just do it

So here is the delimma. I've a 2yo and a 4yo and I've no option but to have them with me when I'm doing my jobs. Given my wife can be gone for a few days at a time with work and I've no grannies to drop them with, what do others do with them?

It's grand on the days when its only 10-20mins to do a bit of foddering, but as I work full time, there is often other work that needs to be done as well. You know the story!

whelan1

have 3 kids 10,7 and 3.. pity to say sky tv is a saviour! youngest goes to playschool 5 mornings a week... so i can get some work done

agcons

You have to do what you have to do. Make sure you have seats with seat belts on the tractor. They literally saved a life one day when I was on the bog with them.
I got a buggy in the states years ago which was designed for joggers who bring the baby strapped into it when they go jogging. Deadly around the farm, big pumped wheels and sturdy, plus the kid strapped into it is safe.
Having them around the yard will certainly make you very safety conscious but its good for them as they grow up to see a farm and farmer working, something non farm children miss out on. The biggest danger is having their friends, cousins etc on site who are not familiar with farms and the dangers they pose, although at 2 and 4 you re probably not at that stage yet

keep going

+1 on the seat belts,bought an old jeep this year and find it handy as i can take the children with me when im feeding calves,fencing, moving stock

Bizzum

I would be of the opinion that it is next to impossible to do any real work safely with two kids, 2 and 4 in tow!

Maybe a local teenager could watch them for a couple of hours as required?

just do it

Along the lines of replies so far, keeping them belted in the scenic is what I'm at. I just don't want to brown them off the farm though by leaving them like this for too long! Also the 4yo can now release his own seat belt:eek:

just do it

Bizzum wrote: »

I would be of the opinion that it is next to impossible to do any real work safely with two kids, 2 and 4 in tow!

Maybe a local teenager could watch them for a couple of hours as required?

No doubt the best solution Bizzum and probably one that I'll have to look into;)

Askim

Have a 3 yo, Coming with me since 6 mts, have a hi-viz jacket for him, makes it easier to keep an eye on him, & the rule is stay with me at all times, he is always in site,

When the tractor is going he is always in the cab with me. You have to be strict and be very aware of the dangers, what can fall on him, what can he fall in to etc etc

he loves it, it is really great, he knows the pigs go to the butcher and the pork we eat is from the pigs that were running around a few weeks earlier.

also have a 1yo & she comes in the buggy

A

bbam

Bizzum wrote: »

I would be of the opinion that it is next to impossible to do any real work safely with two kids, 2 and 4 in tow!

Maybe a local teenager could watch them for a couple of hours as required?

Problem is during the week there isn't anyone available for a few hours.
I try a. No children policy if any machinery is being used but it is hard all the time.
I bring the car where I can see it and stick on a children's songs cd.
I worked on one farm where a three year old was lost for a few hours, it was awful. Sadly I worked on another where a five year old was killed by a tractor.
There is no perfect solution.

whelan1

thats why i leave them in the house , with outside door closed , have a big fear of farm machinery and the kids... the youngest lad went missing one day, i nearly died, he was in the car the whole time !

JohnBoy

Headrest mounted dvd players? might buy you a little more time.

maybe buy an old vitara and put some big balloon tyres on it and use it instead of the tractor when doing things like fencing?

no free solutions though

just do it

JohnBoy wrote: »

Headrest mounted dvd players? might buy you a little more time.

maybe buy an old vitara and put some big balloon tyres on it and use it instead of the tractor when doing things like fencing?

no free solutions though

Thanks JohnBoy

The OH would kill me if she found DVD players in my car! I'd chance it if I could trust the 2 of them not to squel on me:D. We've a TV free zone but for matches and the like so it's a big no no!

The old vitara is a gr8 idea as if it is only for personal use on the farm I assume there would be no need for nct, tax, insurance etc? Never mind the kids, I'd knock plenty of use out of it!

JohnBoy

if the farm is all in one block of land then yeah technically you dont need anything if you never go on the road, but beware if you have a farm accident involving it then your farm insurance will probably not be interested in helping out.