Tools for Raising Helpers

Best Tools for Kids! Get children to start helping with the chores with tools for raising helpers!

Teach children how to develop independence with children’s tools. Children are more likely to help with chores and duties around the house, yard, and garden when they have tools for kids.

The early messages we send our children can help their work ethic bloom. For example, giving children tools sends the message that they are good enough to help and expected to help with the household chores. Learn how to get children to start helping with the chores in 15 Ways to Raise a Helper.

get kids to start helping with the chores with tools for raising helpers! — *In these photos, my daughter is using her old wheelbarrow and our old Electrolux vacuum.*

Related: How to Teach Kids Good Manners

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

Get your children their own real tools if you want your children to start helping with the house, yard, and garden chores.

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 tools for kids that work!

Sometimes children also need a little guidance and support when learning to meet their commitments. Lucky for you, we have Visual Routine Cards and Home & School Tools for Kids to help you. Or, learn more about our signature program, Organizing Life with Kids!

How Does Using Real Tools for Kids Benefit Child Development?

Children are much more likely to start helping with chores when they have tools. Tools are magical objects to children. They see us using them and want to use them too. When you give a child a simple tool, it is as if you are saying, “you are good enough, your work is valued, and you are worthy.”

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

Homelife skills are one of the developmental domains of early childhood. When we give our children the gift of simple tools, they can learn basic home life skills, such as cleaning the house, helping with yard work, and growing food, which is essential for their whole development.

Using simple 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 natural tools recommended by Waldorf and Montessori educators.

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

Related: How to Raise a Helper

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 a 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 excellent 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 wooden dustpan is perfect for your little helper. The solid construction helps little ones sweep dirt into it quickly.

5. Natural Broom for Kids

Here’s a natural corn broom with a solid wood handle. Get your children to start helping with the chores and make them feel grown up with this natural corn broom!

6. Childs String Mop

The perfect string mop for kids and toddlers! Use this mop to clean up around the house. Featuring a solid wood red handle like the natural broom listed above and a 100% cotton mop head that will 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 that attracts and holds dust like a magnet!

Its light and fluffy dusting head are excellent for dusting picture frames, knick-knacks, and other delicate items without cleaning chemicals. In addition, it is the perfect way to invite toddlers and preschoolers to help with the chores.

9. Swiffer Sweeper Wet & Dry Floor Mop

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

10. Stick Vacuum With Detachable Handheld Vacuum

The Electrolux 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 the older model of this vacuum, and it does a darn good job! My daughter also likes to use it to clean up when she makes a mess. It has a 2-in-1 detachable handheld vacuum that she can use AND clean out when finished vacuuming! Thanks for teaching her how to do that, dad. 🙂

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

best tools for kids - tools for raising helpers!

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

1. Soft Jersey Gardening Gloves

These stretchable and breathable cotton gardening gloves have a coordinating knit wrist to help keep dirt out and hands clean.

2. Mini Haws Watering Can

Here is a miniature, 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.

3. 5 Piece Childrens Garden Hand Tool Set

Here’s a gardening kit for kids that toddlers and preschoolers can use to help in the garden. it contains a spoon, fork, trowel, rake, and shovel. The tools are metal with wood handles and are fully functional.

4. Standing Garden Tool Set for Kids

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

5. Push Broom

The perfect-sized push broom for your little helper to start sweeping up around the house and yard, and garage!

6. Wheelbarrow for Kids

Here is another one of my daughter’s favorite tools. This cute little red wheelbarrow is as functional as it is fun. And, it is a 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 For Kids

I think grandma loves this all-terrain cargo wagon as much as my daughter does. She is always borrowing it! We also love the all-terrain steel and wood wagon. Both have many uses above and beyond the yard and garden, making it well worth the purchase price.

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

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

Building & Construction Tools for Kids

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

Safety goggles and safety glasses are not just for building and construction. They are also perfect for science projects and any other activities to ensure little helping eyes are well protected.

We have used these not just for science projects but also for cooking, art, and woodworking. So 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

This set of hearing protection earmuffs for children is 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 while working with loud equipment such as lawnmowers, 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 wears these.

3. Children’s Work Gloves

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

4. Children’s Tool Belt

This genuine tool belt for kids 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 basic toolset. This toolset for kids is better for young children with smaller hands, while this toolset for kids contains everything an older child might need for building and woodworking projects, including a tool belt.

6. Small Electric Cordless Drill

While this drill is not made for children, it is an actual electric cordless drill that can enable a well-supervised older child to safely use a drill and practice drilling holes and screwing bolts.

Best Tools for Kids: Tools for Raising Helpers

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

Children want to be just like their caregivers working and using tools. So 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 who help with household chores, don’t forget to pop over to have a look at the other articles in this series about raising helpful children:

And, learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!

Tools for Raising Helpers

Best Tools for Kids! Get children to start helping with the chores with tools for raising helpers!

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

How Does Using Real Tools for Kids Benefit Child Development?

The Best Real Household Tools for Kids