Stores like Home Depot have kid size sets of gardening tools and kid size gloves. My son had some when he was younger and he loved playing in the dirt.

A couple suggestions for what to grow:

Strawberries! Of course.
Radishes, because they grow so fast that the wait isn't as hard.
Rainbow Swiss Chard, because it's colorful

My 4 year old loves gardening with my Aunt (his great aunt), and has helped me so far on my garden in progress. To date he's helped start the seeds. His little fingers are great to pick up individual seeds and he can water them with my assistance. Since they sprouted in less than 2 weeks, they're a great starter. Of course now he wants to know when we can eat them.

He can help mix the dirt when we get it next month and then will be helpful planting seeds and seedlings.

He's got little gloves like mine, and plastic tools that should work fine if we need them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden in progress...

Anne

There's a set below that you can take a look at. The set includes a garden rake, a leaf rake, a hoe, and a shovel.

And this page has some other gardening stuff for kids, a wheelbarrow, watering can, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toysmith Kids Gardening Tools Set

I have a 4 year old boy and he enjoys helping me in with the Vegetable Garden. Last year for Mothers Day they asked at his pre-school what he loves about his mommie and he said that he loves his mommie because she lets him help in the vegetable garden....giggles. Anyhow, I always find great garden tools at Target. They have this set for kids that is colorful and just the right size. Also have kids gardening gloves and such. Also, since you've mentioned the red wagon. I just found a marvelous idea online. If he doesn't use the wagon for much else anymore, drill a few holes in the bottom for draineage, fill it up with gardening soil and plant anything that would go in a salad, such as lettuce, radishes, maybe some herbs. They called it the "Salad on wheels". I thought it was great idea and I will definitely try it this year. It's a pleasure to get kids involved in the garden and I know they love being the little helpers.

Found this previous discussion about sources over on the Gardening with Kids forum. Hope it helps.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Kids Tools

I got one of those, or something very similar, for my 4 yr old, and it was kinda junky - she broke them all pretty quickly.

I found a small bladed shovel/spade, made for adults, at a well-equipped hardware store. It cost about $40, and we still use it all the time. A short handled stirrup hoe is a lot of fun for kids as well.

Hi,

Thanks for all the tips, links, and stories! Looks like quite a few things out there for kids. I think I may get one of the tool kits and the little wheelbarrow. Also think a pair of farmer's overalls would be cute (but don't know if his mom would let him wear them LOL!). Might also send along some easter egg radish seeds. Boy, I wish I lived closer so I could garden with him, but I guess I'll have to settle for photos from his grandpa. My brother is SO excited about gardening with his grandson. I'm sure they'll have tons of fun!

Anne

When my kids were young they enjoyed planting larger seeds like beans and corn that were easy to pick up individually. Purple podded beans were a real hit with them and for awhile came packaged in a packet to appeal to kids...called magic beans or something like that because they change to green when you cook them.

Raised beds and planters worked well when they were young, too, since it kept them from trampling the young plants they could hardly see.

They loved to water the plants. A watering can kept them happy and kept the plants from being washed away by hose watering. Lots of small cute kiddie water cans are available.

Some of the tools they used were adult tools with small blades, rakes, etc. that we trimmed to have a child sized handle. They were sturdy and priced better than the child sized things we could find then.

I tried to interest my son in gardening one summer, but did not want to push the issue too much and make him hate it. Finally, in September, when everything was winding down for the year, he announced he wanted to grow beans. We planted some in a large planter and moved them inside soon after they sprouted...just before the first frost. We ate them around Thanksgiving! Sometimes you just have to work with the kid's schedule.