If your children are like mine, they love to hang out in the garden and help. This is especially true for the little ones from ages 2 through 5, where they enjoy your company. They are into everything, and want nothing more than to help planting or digging. They will even help weed sometimes if the soil is still moist enough that they can do it, and of course the joy of harvest is the big payoff for them. It helps if you plant something that can be picked and enjoyed right in the garden, be it strawberries or growing tomatoes. Another favorite is radishes simply because they grow so fast. And it give them a way to landscape around the Little TIkes playhouse.

But the little hands aren't made to handle the usual garden tools that adults use. They are too much in terms of size and weight. But there are a number of products just made for little guys.

First, I would suggest you stay away from the plastic tools, at least for the older kids. They work OK in the sandbox, but when it comes time to actually dig in the garden they come up short and are prone to break.

Another thing that is fun to do with the kids is to put plant markers out. I like to keep the seed packages and tape the picture to the marker so they know wha to look for as the seedlings emerge from the ground.

The basic tools that should come with a garden tool set are a trowel, a mini rake and a hoe. Many of these sets come with a cloth or canvas carrier, and the Toysmith set has a sprinkler can as well.

For slightyl larger kids, you can find some that have handles a little longer than 2 feet,

As your kids get a little bigger, they may want toy garden tools that demand a little more from them. One tool that the older kids love is a wheel barrow, sized just for them. Or maybe something like a toy lawn mower. Make sure you get one that has the details right, smooth finish on the handle, rolled corners on the metal work. This can be handy for holding all sorts of things, even for the adults at times.

You can find a one of these from John Deere, with the classic Deere colors to match your other lawn and garden (or farm) equipment.

Some adults feel the need to wear gloves when working in the garden. Others revel in the feel and smell of the garden soil. More than likely you will transmit your preference to your kids as you work side by side in the garden. If you prefer gloves for your children you'll be glad to know you can find lots of gloves in children's sizes, in a variety of styles.

The most important thing to keep in mind in all this is to be sure your kids experience the things you do in the garden, the quiet peace of working with nature, the respect for the great gift and the fraility of live that demands our respect. Gardening with your children often creates some"teachable moments" where they are open to your wisdom, which only makes it that much more rewarding.

Introduce you children to gardening. If they get the gardening bug, it will be with them for life.