How young is too young ?

[treedweller]

I bought my first saw from Carisle auction age 12. Stihl 011av and I still have it today. Ive had more close shaves as an adult using bigger saw with too much complacency day in day out.

[skyhuck]

For me, the key points are lack of ppe and the fact that nobody can intervene in the event of something going wrong.

 

My daughters are 3 and 5. When my 5yo was 3, her preferred bedtime treat was to watch videos of people using chainsaws on YouTube and criticise their lack of ppe ('silly man, no special trousers, no special hat). A few months back we worked out that they were both worried when I used a saw. It turned out that because they had been told not to touch the saws as they are sharp, they were worried that the saw would hurt me. More explanation required - they now know where the handles are, the sharp bits are and the hot bit. They now know how to pick up a saw without being hurt. They will not be anywhere near a running saw for many years.

 

I do encourage both children to take risk (5yo sometimes uses the ride on mower) but there is always a 'what if' risk assessment - I put the mower in first and walk with it. I do the edges and she only does clear areas where there is nothing to hit, although she is good at steering it and doesn't hit things anyway. She will be driving the Land Rover on the field when she can reach the pedals and learn double fe clutching. I reckon around 10 or 11.

 

3yo just climbs rocks like a mountain goat!

 

Alec

 

Reading this sends a shiver down my spine, I know a girl who lost all the fingers on one hand when she fell off a ride on she was riding with her father, she was 5.