Is the Little Gardener set actually useful for real yard work with kids?

Yes, the Little Gardener wheelbarrow and tools held up through a full season of enthusiastic use. The wheelbarrow is sturdy enough for real yard work but light enough for a four-year-old to maneuver, and the tools are genuinely functional rather than flimsy plastic props. Just don’t overload it with wet soil on the first trip — the dirt goes everywhere, but that’s part of the fun.