The calendar is giving us a break this year. Since Christmas falls on a Wednesday, many school kids will have two full weeks of holiday vacation.

What's a kid to do?

Many older kids and teens go to work on the farm to earn a little money or just help out. Younger children want to play outside. If they're on a farm, that's usually around water or in barns and sheds.

"Parents have to be especially careful when allowing children and youths to help with farm chores and even where they play on the farm," said Bob Tyson, an engineer with the University of Georgia Extension Service.

National statistics reveal that 300 youths under age 20 die on U.S. farms and ranches every year. Nearly 27,000 are injured.

"It's up to parents to lead children in the right direction and insist that they follow safety rules," Tyson said.

For many parents, that's a special incentive to follow safety rules themselves. Setting a good example may be the best way to teach children safe farm working habits.

Children watch adults around them to learn safety rules and when, or if, it's OK to break them sometimes. "It's never OK to break safety rules," Tyson said.

He said youths ages 13 to 14 can probably do just about every job that needs to be done on a farm. Parents should work closely with younger children. Once parents learn their child's abilities they can make judgments about allowing the child to do a certain farm job.

Most children under 13 can operate tractors and other heavy machinery during routine tasks. But Tyson said they probably can't react quickly and appropriately when an emergency occurs.

Make sure they know to:

* Put any PTO shaft into neutral before they get off the tractor.

* Never, ever, reach or step over a PTO shaft.

* Never get into filled or filling grain storage bins.

* Leave any equipment that might fall parked with the bucket or lift on the ground.

* Always know where all the people around them are before starting or moving tractors or equipment.

Parents need to make sure their children and their friends know the dangers on the farm.

"Dangers are everywhere -- not just around tractors and equipment," Tyson said.

Many children like to ride in pickup truck beds. But without seat belts, they can easily fall or be thrown out of the truck during a minor accident or sudden stop. In Georgia, passengers under 18 must use seat belts, no matter what type of vehicle they're in.

Watch youths on all-terrain vehicles. Be sure children have and use a properly fitted helmet while riding ATVs. Just because makers downsize some models for children, it doesn't mean they can safely handle them.

Store farm chemicals in locked rooms or separate buildings away from normal play areas. Never put chemicals into containers anyone could mistake for a drink.

Make sure all safety shields and guards are in place and intact. Even children watching a parent making repairs or working could be hurt by flying parts or debris.

Lock access doors to grain storage bins. Loose corn or grain looks like fun to play in, but can't support the weight of even small children. Anyone in a grain bin can sink into the bin and suffocate.

"Almost all accidents that happen on a farm are preventable," said Mike Bader, an extension engineer.

While many children and youths enjoy helping around the farm, it's important that they know and follow safety rules, too.