Tools for Raising Helpers

Best Tools for Kids! Get children to start helping with the chores with tools for raising helpers! Teach your children how to develop self-confidence and independence, and, get your kids to help with the chores around the house, yard, and garden using real children’s toys recommended by Waldorf & Montessori educators.

Children are much more likely to start helping with chores when they have their own tools.

The early messages we send our children can help their work ethic bloom. Giving children tools sends the message to children that they are good enough to help, and, expected to help with the household chores.

To learn our favorite tips and tricks to get children to start helping with the chores, pop over to read 15 Ways to Raise a Helper.

Related: How to Raise a Helper

Please note: Some of the tools for kids pictured in this article have become outdated. The children’s tools listed below contain links to updated tools and reviews. In the photos featured above my daughter is using her old wheelbarrow and our Electrolux vacuum.

Related: How to Teach Kids Good Manners

Best Children’s Tools for Raising Kids That Help with the Chores

If you want your Children to start helping with the chores around the house, yard, and garden, get them their own real tools.

Both Montessori and Waldorf educators recommend that children use natural materials whenever possible, so we have made sure to list tools for kids of the highest quality and made with natural materials whenever possible.

If we want our children to develop into independent members of society with positive work habits and help with the household chores–they need real tools for kids that really work!

How Does Using Real Tools for Kids Benefit Child Development?

Real tools are magical objects to children. They see us using them and want to use them too. When you give a child a real tool it is as if you are saying, “you are good enough, your work is valued, and you are worthy.”

Learning to safely use tools with a supervising caregiver can help children develop into self-confident and independent members of society. As parents, that is one of our most important roles.

Home life skills are one of the developmental domains of early childhood. When we give our children the gift of real tools for kids, they can learn basic home life skills, such as, cleaning the house, helping with yard work, and growing food, that are important for the whole development of the child.

Using real tools also helps children develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor, and gross motor skills, problem-solving, and logical thought.

Help your children develop the self-confidence and independence they need to start helping with the chores with these real tools recommended by Waldorf and Montessori educators.

Related: Flower Arranging Montessori Practical Life Activity

Children want to be just like their caregivers doing chores, working, and using tools. Give children the tools they need to become the helpers they were born to be!

Related: Kids Books That Teach Important Life Lessons

The Best Real Household Tools for Kids

1. DIY Chemical-Free Cleaning Kit for Kids

Kids love to have their own supplies to help with around the house. Having their own cleaning kit makes them want to clean. My concern has always been dangerous toxic chemicals in cleaning supplies. This one is safe for children!

2. Mini Brush and Dustpan Set

Ask children to help with chores and clean up their little messes with this cute little hand broom and dustpan set. It works great for spilled snacks and oh-oh mamas!

3. Whisk Broom for kids

We love this small whisk hand broom for little hands made with traditional natural fibers. Includes a metal ring for easy storage.

4. Childs Wooden Dustpan

This cute little dustpan is perfect for your little helper. The solid construction helps little ones sweep dirt into it easily.

5. Natural Broom for Kids

This children’s broom with traditional solid wood red handle is the perfect length for kids to use. Get your children to start helping with the chores and make them feel all grown up with their very own natural corn broom!

6. Childs String Mop

The perfect string mop for kids and toddlers! This mop is 36″ length and can really be used for cleaning. Featuring a solid wood red handle like the natural broom listed above, and 4 Ply cotton mop head that is made to last.

7. Natural Duster

My daughter loves using this natural dusting tool! She is always making off with it to dust something. It is made with 100% pure premium quality lambswool that contains natural lanolin which attracts and holds dust like a magnet!

It’s light and fluffy dusting head is great for dusting picture frames, knick-knacks, and other delicate items without the need for cleaning chemicals, and is the perfect way to invite children to help with the chores.  

9. Swiffer Sweeper Wet & Dry Floor Mop Starter Kit

These are awesome for kids! When we were on vacation last summer the home we stayed in had one available. Whenever I tried to use it my daughter threw herself on the floor until I let her clean. Yes, Really! I was happy to hand it over and let her have a go.

10. Electrolux Vacuum

This is my favorite tool for quickly sweeping the kitchen floor and my daughter’s favorite tool for helping mama vacuum the house. All I have to do is get out my vacuum and she goes and does the same. Monkey see monkey do… awesome!

We have an older model of this vacuum pictured above. It does a darn good job!

My daughter also likes to use this to clean up when she makes a mess. It even has a 2-in-1 detachable handheld vacuum that she can use AND clean out when she is done! Thanks for teaching her how to do that dad. 🙂

Update: We were recently given a Black and Decker cordless stick vacuum and we love it! It also has a 2-in-1 detachable handheld vacuum that’s easy for both kids and adults to use.

Related: How to Use the Kindness Elves to Encourage Kindness All Year

Real Children’s Tools for Helping in the Yard & Garden

1. Soft Jersey Gardening Gloves

These stretchable cotton colorful print gloves with coordinating knit wrist to help keep dirt out and hands clean.

2. Mini Haws Watering Can

This is a small, well-balanced, mini version of the classic haws watering can that is perfect for kids. My daughter LOVES watering and uses this for both indoor and outdoor plants. 

I recommend gluing on the removable brass faced spout or your child may lose it like mine did – ha! You can see it missing in the photo collage featured above. 

Another one of my favorite types of watering cans for kids can be found in the hand garden tool set below. My daughter uses both regularly.

3. Hand Garden Childs Tool Set with Tote

A sturdy canvas bag containing a rake, fork, spade, and watering can for kids. The tools are metal with wood handles and are fully functional.

4. Standing Garden Tool Set for Kids

This kid-sized set of sturdy tools includes a shovel, rake, hoe and leaf rake. Each metal tool is attached to a solid wood handle so kids can really help!

5. Push Broom

The perfect sized push broom for your little helper to start helping with the chores!

6. Wheelbarrow for Kids

Another one of my daughter’s favorite tools. This wheelbarrow is as functional as it is fun. The perfect wheelbarrow for little ones to haul their toys around or help with chores in the yard or garden.

You can see our daughter pictured below helping with the chores with her children’s wheelbarrow, as we moved wood from a truck to the woodpile in the backyard.

7. All-Terrain Cargo Wagon or All-Terrain Steel and Wood Wagon  

I think my daughter’s grandma loves this wagon as much as my daughter does. She is always borrowing it! It has many uses above and beyond the yard and garden that make it well worth the purchase price.

We have the first one listed. It is all wood with removable side walls that come in handy. I also really love the second option because the wagon is metal with wood sides that are not removable. The right wagon for you depends on your needs and which features make the most sense for your family.

These wonderful all-terrain little red wagons can be used for hauling around toys, tools, heavy plants and equipment, bringing in the groceries, farmers markets, trips to the park or beach, and picking berries or visiting the pumpkin patch!

Building & Construction Tools for Kids

1. Children’s Safety Goggles and/or Safety Glasses for Kids

These safety goggles and glasses are not just for building and construction. They are also perfect for science projects and any other activities that you want to make sure little helping eyes are well protected.

We have used these not just for science projects but also cooking, art, and woodworking. If you have kids who are creative and love to be hands-on I recommend one or both of these.

2. Hearing Protection for Kids

These comfortable earmuffs are fully adjustable to fit little ones comfortably while still fitting snug over the ears for superior protection against loud noises that can cause hearing damage. They even work for me!

Little ears are so sensitive. These are great for when the kids want to be outside with you when you are working with loud equipment such as lawn mowers, blowers, hammers, and skill or chop saws. We don’t allow our daughter to go outside with dad when he’s working with loud equipment unless she is wearing these.

3. Children’s Work Gloves (Leather, Synthetic Leather, or Nitrile Coated)

Protect your children’s hands while they’re working and playing with a pair of leather, synthetic leather, or nitrile coated work gloves for kids!

4. Leather Tool Belt

These tool belts can be used for real work, helping with the chores, and pretend play.

5. Real Tool Set for Kids or Children’s Tool Kit

Give your children the gift of a real tool set. This toolset for kids is better for young children with smaller hands, while this real tool set for kids contains everything an older child could need for all types of building and woodworking projects.

6. Small Electric Cordless Drill

This drill is not made for children. It is a real electric cordless drill that can enable a well-supervised older child to learn how to use a drill safely, and, practice drilling holes and screwing bolts.

Related: DIY Projects for Do it Yourself Families

Best Tools for Kids: Tools for Raising Helpers

If you want Children to help with the chores around the house, yard, and garden, get them their own tools for kids!

Children want to be just like their caregivers working and using tools. Give children the tools they need to become the helpers they were born to be!

Help your children develop the self-confidence and independence they need to start helping with the chores with the gift of real tools for children recommended by Waldorf and Montessori educators.

For more information about raising children that help with the household chores, pop over to read How to Raise a Helper and 15 Ways to Raise a Helper.

Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!

If You Like Real Tools for Children, You May Also Like

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• Teach Kids to Use Good Manners the Easy Way
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