For all ages, more than half of the injuries were work-related. Causes vary with the child's age. One publication cannot address the causes and cures for all farm-related accidents. However, it can offer some general guidelines for adults to use when providing careful supervision, assigning chores, and teaching about safety in ways that are appropriate for the youth's age and abilities. As all children grow, they pass through a series of developmental stages.
Physical changes are obvious, as a child grows taller and stronger.
Mental and emotional changes are difficult to detect unless adults understand characteristics of each stage. Most accidents occur when a child is doing something that is beyond his or her mental, physical or emotional ability. Preschool children are not developmentally ready to understand cause and effect relationships. They need physical barriers such as fences, gates and locks, to keep them away from danger. On the other hand, teen-aged youth are mentally equipped to understand that risky behavior often has unpleasant consequences.