Child-Sized Sweeping Set
A child-sized sweeping set is a hand brush and dustpan, and later a short broom, for children of about 2.5 to 5 to sweep up spilled beans and crumbs. On October 5, 2026 we found sets from $6.50 to $19.90 at US sellers. A small hardware-shop brush and pan works, and a broom can be cut to the child's chin.
The first lesson with it is Sweeping with a Brush and Dustpan. Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Practical Life |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 2.5 to 5 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $7 to $20 (noted ) |
What the child-sized sweeping set is for
Sweeping starts with a hand brush, a dustpan and a few beans scattered round a chalk circle. The child sweeps them in, piles them up and pans them. A short broom comes once the brush is controlled.
Montessori's children swept their own rooms. In 1917 she asked for brooms with short, smooth, light handles, sized to the child.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Hand brush | Soft, dense bristles; Montessori Services' set is 6.5 by 8.5 inches |
| Dustpan | Thin, flat front edge so sweepings don't slip under |
| Broom | Handle to about chin height; The Montessori Room's is 70 cm |
| Hook or stand | Low enough for the child to hang the tools up |
The lessons that use the child-sized sweeping set
Sweeping with a Brush and Dustpan
2.5 to 5 yearsSweeping scattered beans into a chalk circle with a child-sized brush, then into a dustpan, then sweeping a real floor.
Buying one: 3 listings checked October 5, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Montessori ServicesWhisk Broom and Dustpan Set (Q56)Brush snaps into the pan; 6.5 by 8.5 inches. Temporarily out of stock, expected October 19, 2026. Made in China. | Polypropylene bristles, plastic dustpan | $6.50 |
| Alison's MontessoriHand Broom and Dustpan Set (P79)Sale price; regular $20.95. Hand broom, dustpan, bowl and a bag of grain on a wooden tray, 12.5 by 8.25 inches. Made in Taiwan. | Plastic broom and dustpan, wooden tray | $19.90 |
| The Montessori RoomIndoor Broom and Dustpan (MR003)Canadian store. Broom handle 70 cm; dustpan 24 by 17 cm. | Varnished beech, horsehair bristles | $42.99 CAD |
- The $6.50 whisk broom set does the first lessons. It was out of stock until October 19 when we looked.
- Alison's $19.90 set comes ready to use: a tray and bowl, with grain to sweep.
- For a real floor, a short broom matters more than the brush. The Montessori Room's has a 70 cm beech handle and horsehair bristles.
- Montessori Outlet and Nienhuis's US store had no child-sized sweeping set we could find.
Making the child-sized sweeping set at home
What to gather
- A small hand brush and dustpan from a hardware shop
- An inexpensive broom with a wooden handle, if you want a long-handled one
- A saw and sandpaper
- A hook for the wall
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Broom handle | Cut so the top reaches the child's chin | 1 |
- 1Stand the broom beside the child and mark the handle at chin height.
- 2Saw it off and sand the cut end smooth and round.
- 3Put a hook on the wall at the child's shoulder height for the broom and the brush and pan.
- 4Mark a 30 cm circle on a hard floor with masking tape for the first lessons.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Hang the brush and broom up rather than standing them on their bristles, which bend.
- Shake out the brush outdoors after use.
Questions parents ask about the child-sized sweeping set
Does a child need a child-sized broom?
It helps a lot. A handle that reaches the chin is easy to steer. A hand brush and dustpan come first anyway, and a cut-down adult broom is fine later.
What should a child practice sweeping?
A few dried beans or bits of torn paper scattered round a tape circle on a hard floor. Later, real crumbs under the table.
Where should the sweeping set live?
On a low hook where the child can reach it, near where spills happen. A child who can fetch the brush alone will use it.
Before the child-sized sweeping set, make sure the work before it is solid. The dry pouring between two pitchers lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.