Child care needs of farm families

One crucial strategy for preventing childhood agricultural injuries is to provide feasible, safe alternatives to on-farm parental care of young children. The on- and off-farm work demands of farming parents often compromise their ability to provide adequate supervision of their children on the farm, particularly during periods of intense production activities, creating a demand for alternative child care options. In order for child care options to be of value to farming families, they must be perceived by parents as trustworthy; available when parents need them; and financially feasible. The challenge of creating sufficient child care options for farm families will only be met when communities and business leaders address child care as a matter of community economic well-being as well as child and family well-being. Recommendations are given for engaging community and business leaders, crafting solutions that meet families' preferences and needs, and expanding available data on farm parents' and child care. A description of a model program and a list of recommended resources are also given.