Tools.

[MarthaK_1]

I can't do anything with my tools. It keeps wanting to throw them in the trash. This is on the switch. I'm not even past the first day. It's awful.

 

[HappyPenguin]

I can't do anything with my tools. It keeps wanting to throw them in the trash. This is on the switch. I'm not even past the first day. It's awful.

Use tools is the y button, not the a button, while you have them selected in your hotbar. To hot bar scroll, use ZL and ZR. I know this confused me at first. Here is the full list of controls, see if that helps!

Controls - Stardew Valley Wiki

All hotkeys can be reassigned by opening the menu and choosing the Options tab

stardewvalleywiki.com