Getting the kids involved with gardening can be a hugely rewarding experience. Connecting with nature is meaningful in itself, but introducing children to the experience of planting a seed and watching it grow can have tremendous positive effects in the long run.
There are gardening tools and kits available that are specially catered to children, with smaller handles and safer blades to make sure they're safe. We've rounded up our top picks of children's gardening sets to get your young ones outdoors.
Best children's gardening kits for 2023
Healthy Family's Grow Your Own
Get your kids to plant veg and flowers with this fun and educational set from Healthy Family. The kit includes seeds, plant pots and activity sheets so that kids can learn more about nature and wildlife. These easy seeds for children can make this a fun activity for the family.
There are over 200 seeds in the kit, with five packs each for the five different seeds: sunflowers, beans, wildflowers, peas and cress. The activity packs can help children engage and connect with nature, so they can learn more about the seeds they're planting.
Little Tikes Growing Garden: Large Tool Set & Wheelbarrow and Shovel Set
These two separate Growing Garden sets are a great way to get your children involved with gardening. The large tool set comes with a rake, shovel and garden hoe, as well as a book on gardening tips to help kids get the most from their home planting.
The wheelbarrow and shovel set is another fun addition. Give your kids the freedom to wheel it around and they'll be helping out in the garden in no time!
National Trust 'Get Me Gardening' Children's Gardening Tools
Buy it from The National Trust
This collection of gardening tools can provide everything to get young ones out into the garden. There are 11 different products that are available to buy separately, so you can tailor the tools to give your kid the gardening experience they want. Spades, forks, rakes and more are available in this collection designed in collaboration with the National Trust.
Kids Garden Tools Outdoor Play Set
Give a little helper everything they'd need to get into the garden with this garden tools set. Complete with an apron, gloves and tote tool bag, the kit includes a rake, shovel, trowel, watering can and two small plant pots. The tools are made from plastic and metal but are free from sharp edges for peace of mind.
The kit encourages young ones to engage more with nature while teaching them the rewards of growing their own plants. It would make a perfect gift for any child wanting to get into the garden and would also be a great activity to take on family outings or to the beach.
For more present ideas, see our edit of the best children's gardening gifts you can buy online.
Budding Gardener Children's Garden Tools
Buy it from Harrod Horticultural
These Budding Gardener tools are miniature versions of the standard you'd expect from adult gardening tools. The pieces are made using stainless steel with wooden handles, helping children to get a feel for what's involved with real-life gardening.
The hand fork and hand trowel are suitable for kids aged 3 and the larger spade and fork are suitable for kids aged 6 . Each tool can be purchased individually, so you can customise the set for your young one.
Plant It, Grow It and Eat It
Buy it from Etsy
This comprehensive gardening kit includes everything needed to plant, grow and eat in a variety of fun activities. Kids will be able to grow a bean in a bag, make their own worm farm or eat cress that they've grown themselves.
Nasturtium seeds, runner bean seeds and cress seeds are included, as well as a number of tools and instructions to get the most out of it. Colourful kit and bug templates make this a fun activity for kids and the family.
RHS Very Hungry Caterpillar Gardening Bucket Set
Young gardeners could have a lot of fun with this Very Hungry Caterpillar gardening set from RHS. The kit has a colourful, playful design that is sure to inspire some engagement from the kids.
Included is a spade, rake, three plant labels and a metal bucket with a wooden handle. The set comes under the range of gardening accessories released for the beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar's 50th birthday.
In search of sets for adults? We've rounded up the best growing kits you can buy online.