If you are looking to involve your children in the great outdoors then the best way to do this is getting them to help with the gardening! Children love to feel involved and will spend hours helping in the garden if they have the right tools. That is why one of the best things to purchase for them is a children’s gardening tool set! These tools are designed to be the perfect size for children to succeed in gardening!
There are many benefits to getting children involved in the garden – not only is it going to ensure they are out in the fresh air, but it can also be educationally and physically beneficial too!
It can be hard to find children’s gardening tools that are going to be right for the job. You need tools that are going to be the right size and not too heavy, but also durable enough so that they can actually be used properly, rather than just for play! Here are some of the favourite sets that we found…
Best Pick – deAO Gardening Tools Playset
- WHEELBARROW & GARDENING PLAY SET: The perfect gift for your little green thumb! A fantastic way to interact with your child through play. Everything your little one will need is included in this play set.
- CONTENTS: This play set includes a variety of accessories that your child will love! Plant pots, a watering can, a watering spray bottle and even larger toy tools are all designed to withstand tough play and outdoor environments. A strong and durable wheelbarrow is also included so your little one can bring their gardening tools with them anywhere!
- GREAT OUTDOOR FUN: Encourage your child outdoors this summer! With this fantastic gardening play set your child is able to create their own fun for hours on end.
- EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS: Not only is your little one able to ‘help’ you in the garden, but they can also build on their important key skills such as hand-eye coordination and understanding the importance and responsibility of growing a plant.
- RECOMMENDATIONS & WARNINGS: Not suitable for children under 3 years. To be used under direct supervision of an adult. For domestic use only. Please note; colour of accessories may vary.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
In A Hurry?
If you are in a rush to get buying your gardening tools then this is the part of the article you need to be reading. We have combined all of the crucial information you need to know about children’s gardening tools before you make that all important purchase.
Children’s Gardening Tools
Obviously the first thing that you need to think about is the tools that are going to be available to you. There are a wide range of children’s gardening tools that you can now choose from depending on exactly what you are wanting to do with the children in the garden. If you are wanting to do standard maintenance in your garden then you might be looking for different tools than if you are going to be working on an allotment or vegetable plot.
Some of the tools that you are going to be able to choose from include:
- Rake
- Shovel
- Trowel
- Watering can
- Hoe
- Leaf rake
- Spade
- Fork
- Weeder
- Cultivator
- Bucket
- Clipper
- Pots
- Plant tags
- Water spray bottle
- Miniature watering can
TOP TIP: One of the main things that you need to think about is whether you want a set that is going to be for pretend play or for actual gardening! This is going to massively impact on the tools that are right for you and the children that you are buying them for. Real gardening tools should ideally have metal ends and be sturdy, whereas pretend tools can be lighter and less practical!
Gardening Gloves
You also need to think about purchasing gardening gloves for children. These are going to keep their precious hands safe and clean whilst they work. This is even more important with children, who are known for putting their hands in things that they shouldn’t and then putting their hands near their face and mouth! Not only this, but their hands are going to be less weathered than an adult that has been gardening for some time, so they are going to be more prone to cuts and scratches from plants.
Look out for gloves that are going to be made with a strong grippy material that won’t become worn and tear too easily. You also want to make sure that they have a good grip on the palm and on the fingers so that children have a better chance of holding the tools and the plants or weeds that they are working with. Foam latex coating is going to be one of your better options as they will be comfortable but also easy to clean.
We would also recommend choosing gloves that are going to be easy to clean but also quick to dry. Kids love getting stuck in and they love mud, so you will probably find their gardening gloves end up in a worse state than yours will, so they’re going to need to be washed quickly and ready to go again and quick as your children are!
Children’s Gardening Tool Sets
If you are new to purchasing children’s gardening tools then it may be worth considering looking for a full children’s gardening tool set. This means that all the gardening tools will match and will all be the right size that you are looking for. You also tend to find that they will be better value for money as you are purchasing them all at once.
We would recommend opting for a set that includes at least a rake, shovel and trowel, but we found that most sets also include plenty of additional tools that your children might want to use. These include, forks, watering cans, spades and weeders. The more tools the better as far as children are concerned, but we found that some of the better quality sets actually had less items, so it may be worth trying to find a balance of this if you are wanting tools that the children can properly use to do some gardening. You can also find some sets that come with aprons and hats to keep your children safe and clean whilst they are gardening.
TOP TIP: Look out for children’s gardening tool sets that come with a gardening tool bag or box to store all the tools in. This will help to keep them safe and tidy so that they don’t go missing after the first use! This will also make it easier for your children to take more independence in their gardening as they will be able to carry the tools around the garden themselves!
Material
The three main materials that you will find used for children’s gardening tools are plastic, metal and wood. There are many benefits for all three depending on exactly what you are looking for and the types of gardening that your children are going to be completing.
Plastic will be easy to clean and durable, you know that if the tools accidentally get left outside in adverse weather they are not going to be damaged. Not just this but they are also going to be incredibly light which makes them great for younger children to use in the garden. However, you will find that plastic gardening tools have a lot less strength, so if you are looking for more sturdy tools that will allow the children to get stuck in then they may not be the option to go for. We also liked the fact that plastic gardening tools tend to come in a huge range of colours, making them more appealing to young children.
You will usually find that metal and wood are both combined in other gardening tools to combine strength and durability. These are definitely the gardening tools to go for if you have older children that are going to be gardening, or if you are serious about your kids getting involved in the gardening or allotment work. They are going to be strong enough to tackle whatever any child throws at them, so the children will really feel as though they can get involved and help with all aspects of gardening. Metal and wood are also durable materials and it would be unlikely that they are going to start rotting and rusting before your children have grown out of them! However, it may be worth checking for a protective sealant on the paintwork that is going to keep the tools lasting for younger generations.
SAFETY TIP: We wouldn’t recommend opting for metal gardening tools for children under the age of 2/3 as there is the risk of them causing harm or damage. Once they are older than this then you should be safe going for metal instead of plastic.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of your tools is going to be very important as this is going to impact on how usable they are for the children that are wanting to garden with them. It goes without saying that young children are going to have considerably less strength and considerably smaller hands than most adults – which is why it is so important that these tools are designed specifically for them.
We would recommend looking out for tools that are under 50g for each tool. Hand tools should be around 3-4 inches long, whereas larger shovels and rakes can go up to around 25 to 30 inches depending on the age of the child. We found that most manufacturers actually specify the age that they are most suited to, so make sure to check this when you are looking at the size and weight of the tools – but also consider your child and their own abilities and strengths.
Best Budget – Kids Gardening Tools 3 Piece
- 3 Piece Garden Set with high quality wooden handle
- Great for kids children's toddlers to do gardening
- Enjoy gardening with your kids and let them great creative !
- UMKY Garden
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Additional Features
Now that you know the main things you need to look out for before buying a children’s gardening set, here are some of the additional features that are worth considering! There are so many available to purchase it is important that you go for the best children’s gardening set that you can find – and with these features you will be well on your way to doing that!
- Colour – For many children it is going to be all about the colour. Bright coloured gardening tools are going to be more enticing, but you can also get children’s gardening tool sets that are going to be colour themed to suit particular children’s interests such as blue or pink.
- Educational sets – Children are always learning, but what better way to help them learn than when they are being active and getting involved in the garden. Some of the sets include educational activities such as plant names, activities and writing sets for children to write down the names of different plants they have been looking after etc.
- Handle grip – Children are going to struggle to hold tools more than adults will so make sure that the handles of the tools have a comfortable but ergonomic grip that is going to make them easy for younger children to hold onto.
- Tool loops – Some tools will have loops in the top so that your children can hang the tools up when they are finished with them. This not only helps to keep the tools safe and ordered, but will teach children some responsibility in tidying their tools away after use!
- Themed – There are gardening tools that are themed around different characters that younger children may be more interested in. This helps to make them more child friendly if you are looking for ways to get them involved in the garden.
Best of the Rest
- Includes carry/storage bag with handy pockets, hand trowel and hand fork, kids gloves, two plant markers, and a matching bucket
- Tools have metal heads and sturdy wooden handles - metal bucket has wooden handle
- Two wooden plant markers add extra fun to this garden kit
- One size; age 3 to 10
- Fun blue color
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Garden or beach bag with all kinds of play tools for children
- Incl. rakes, shovels and a watering can
- Stable play tools for the garden, the sandpit or the beach
- Made of robust wood, metal and fabric
- Size: 9 x 12 x 22 cm
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Rubber Hand Grips
- Features a durable metal frame
- Has a robust metal bucket
- It is easily assembled
- With a load capacity of approx. 25 kg
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gardening help a child’s development?
Yes! There are many ways that gardening can help a child’s development. Not only does it increase a child’s responsibility as they have to care for the plants. They can also develop in learning new skills and increased confidence. There are physical benefits too, such as improved motor skills and strength.
Can you get different sized gardening tools for different aged children?
Yes! There are various sizes of gardening tools for children depending on the age that you are looking for. Most manufacturers will actually give an age range that the tools are going to be suitable for to make it easier to find ones that are right for your child.
How to get children to enjoy gardening?
Many children will naturally love gardening as they will want to be out in the garden and more importantly be with you. However, there are particular ways that you can promote this such as giving children their own area of the garden to be responsible for. It is also a good idea to allow children to explore and discover their area of the garden themselves so they have control of what they are planting and where!
What gardening tools can children use?
Providing the tools are the right size there is a whole range of tools that children will be able to use. Usually you will find small trowels and and hand forks are best to start with, but there is a whole range of shovels and brushes that they will be able to work with too!
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