Grow Your Own Magazine

Our grandson will be three in the summer, quite old enough to buckle down to some serious allotmenteering and we intend to make him a small bed on the new plot. Are there any decent tools out there for him? Most of the children's spades/forks that I have seen have broom-type handles - not a style I'd choose for myself, they must be very difficult to work with. I would like to get him something that he can actually use, but obviously that he can't do do much damage with.

B and Q had some budget range black plastic trowels and forks that my nephews are using after they trashed the "kids" tools they got, I was very disapointed in the kids stuff they were not fit for purpose.
the b and q budget ones are not the best tools in the world but I think they will last them another year or two till their hands are big enough for grown up tools.
They do see mimi versions of grown up tools on some websites but they are very expensive and I dont think its worth the cost.

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
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Children's Gardening Tools - Spades, Forks, Rake etc - The Garden Superstore

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Children's Gardening - Children's Garden Tools - Able Gardener

I did a quick google. It appears to be a growing market.

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Aldi have kids tools on offer today..

ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 28th February 2008

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

The Joseph Bentley tools for kids are excellent quality, but definately an investment - they're £14.95 each for the spade and fork.
In the shop at Harlow Carr they have a full range of them, so you could go and see them rather than spending a lot of money on something 'untried' via the web. They also have a good range of other gardening stuff for kids, and it's a great excuse for a trip out & a cake in Betty's?! (Mother's Day treat?!)

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

If you are looking for cheap rather than quality, Woolworth's is a good option. I was looking for the same for my daughter. Being only one, she's not going to be doing that much real gardening, so I thought some token tools was a better choice. I looked all over online, including eBay but Woolworth was the best deal. I got a big dumptruck, a pail, trowel and hand rake for around 3 pounds.

my kids weren't interested in the 'kids' tools i got for them. they much prefere adult ones i got hand tools with shaped handle which they can use fine, then we were given a mini spade metal wooden handle would have been quite expensive i think, great fot kids and for some jobs i use it too. i personally would recommend getting a hoe. kids can use them easily with instant results digging is hard for them. and a watering can is essential one with a lid if you can get one
happy gardening

Victoriana Nursery Gardens do most of the Joseph Bentley kids garden range - and its nice to see they let their own kids use the tools - try Plant Care and Gardening Tools From Victoriana Nursery Gardens

Sainsburys have some kids tools in. Cosidered them for Lauren, but she's too tall for the spade and rake now. Might be the right size for your grandson. About 3-4 quid.

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updated 14 May 2008

I find an ordinary kitchen spoon, fork and butter knife from the cutlery drawer are ideal for toddlers. Little hands are used to handling cutlery already, and they cost nothing. "proper" tools are either too blunt, too plasticky, or too heavy for little people. Toys not tools.

The Aldi ones look really cute, but are still fairly big...maybe suitable for 10+. I've tried to get my various little people involved in the garden, but they really only want to sit in the mud and make pies, or hunt for worms.

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I came, I saw, I planted

Thanks, all. I didn't want him to struggle with tools as I remember it being a real pain when I was a kid trying to do something and being prevented from doing it properly by the plastic seaside spade that I was forced to use until I was about seven when I discovered a border fork in the shed (it was as tall as me, but at least I could lift it).

Maybe a set of a hand fork and a trowel would be a good midway point - small enough to handle but actually be able for some work? As in an adult fork and trowel, but they are still fairly small. With something like a cheap spade or fork from Lidl or similar for if he wants to tackle some "proper" digging. I know that we got the toddler (she was 2 at Christmas) a set of hand tools in her stocking- from a GC, and kiddie sized - and I got a Lidl spade, brush and rake last summer when I saw them (she loves the brush but the other 2 are beyond her yet). But the hand tools are already in use in the garden and she was insistent that we bring them when we went to the plot so far (but she isn't interested in using them there yet - maybe later in the summer or next year :O).

In the meantime - plenty of large seeds to help you sow and fast growing things to eat - definitely grow at least one cherry tomato plant and some peas to eat straight from the pod!

how about these
The Organic Gardening Catalogue and you can use them when a hand fork or trowl is
no enough and a fil size fork/spade gets in the way

I've just had the Joseph Bentley "Gardener's Apprentice" tools delivered for my kids (thanks Grandad!). They are really lovely, great quality, a bit smaller than your average border fork & spade. We've got the rake & hoe too. The younger 2 (7 & 11) are both dying to get down the plot and have a go with them! Sam, who's 13, thinks he's too old for them and will use "the grown-up ones, if you don't mind Mum"

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”