Do your kids have a wheelbarrow? When I was just a sprout my very favorite, in fact the one I remember most vividly, outdoor toy was a kid-sized wheelbarrow. It was the very best of outdoor toys and one that is very, very useful in a nature garden; I’ll tell you why.
A Wheelbarrow is Better Than a Trike
I had a trike, but my wheelbarrow was better. With a wheelbarrow you can do real work. You can move soil, dirt, weeds, plants, leaves, rocks, compost, and wood from place to place. Toddlers love to do real work and I certainly used my wheelbarrow to work before I was three.
A bike or trike is fun to ride, but where are you going to go to in a small garden without extensive paved paths? A wheelbarrow can be used all over the garden; much more fun than going in a straight line or around in circles. My trike was boring, my wheelbarrow went everywhere.
Why a Kid Needs a Wheelbarrow
What a great tool for a kid learning co-ordination. A wheelbarrow requires some surprisingly sophisticated co-ordination and balancing skills. First I needed to shove the wheelbarrow to get started, then adjust to get it at the right speed for my little legs.
If I didn’t pay attention to bumps in the ground and balance it properly the li’l wheelbarrow would tip to one side and stuff would fall out. I didn’t like that so I learned to balance it. Then there was all the fun of tipping stuff out in the right garden spot. I’m getting nostalgic just thinking about it. A kid-sized wheelbarrow isn’t really a toy, it’s a garden tool. I think kids like real tools more than toys.
I was sad when I outgrew my little kid wheelbarrow. It was both fun and useful. Did you have one when you were a kid?
You can find both kids’ wheelbarrows and classic wagons at Amazon.com (purchases support Loving Nature’s Garden).
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I had totally forgotten how much I loved our family’s wheelbarrow as a kid. I didn’t have a kid-sized version, but certainly enjoyed the full-sized version when I was big enough. Thanks for the fun reminder!
You are welcome Debi. Thanks for visiting.
I didn’t have a kid-sized wheelbarrow either but I remember my Dad giving us rides in the big wheelbarrow. Fun memories!
Wendy´s last blog ..Chatting With… Wendy Gabriel
Love it! Great physical activity for kids — so often, upper body strength and coordination comes in far behind.
Bethe @balmeras
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When I was a kid, I never really had much toys so I guess I early on, I already knew to take care of the few toys that I had. My dad, who was a bit of a handyman, made me my own wooden toy box painted bright yellow with little compartments inside, which made toy keeping as much fun for me as playing.