Your baby is no longer a little baby and he wants to see and do everything you do. He’s now walking, climbing and needs to be watched 100% of the time, but you still need to get things accomplished around the house. How do you keep your toddler entertained and happy while still getting dinner on the table night after night?
Meet your new best friend; the toddler learning tower.
Hold on a second. Do you mean this weird step stool looking piece of furniture with hand-rails?
Yup, that’s the one!
Do I still need that “learning stool” if I already have a good ol’ step-stool lying around the house?
Well, that’s going to depend on how much time you have on your hands to keep making sure your kid is staying safe up on a stool for extended periods of time.
At our house there isn’t too much time to spare at meal time, so we need accessories that keep our kids busy AND safe. The kitchen learning tower does just that, and more!
What is a toddler learning tower?
A kitchen helper tower (or learning tower) is nothing more than a step stool with a guard rail around the top step to keep you little one safe.
Over time, the learning stool has evolved. Many models now come with additional accessories such as a chalkboard, whiteboard, an easel, paper and pencil holders and more.
The design also varies between the different brands. Learning towers also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some learning stools even fold flat or convert into a table and chair. They are awesome.
What is the purpose of a learning tower?
A learning tower has two main purposes. It raises your toddler up to counter height and it keeps them contained in a safe area so they don’t fall over.
When your child reaches a certain age, they will want to (or demand to) see everything you are doing. The reality is that parents spend a ton of time in the kitchen preparing meals and cleaning up after them so kids want to know what we are doing up there, and they also want to participate.
With a learning tower you can have your kids help with the dishes, meals, wash their own hands and even do arts and craft together while standing. There are so many activities that can be done together with a Montessori learning tower.
Can I use a step stool instead of a kitchen learning tower?
Yes you can use a step stool instead of a kitchen helper tower but you will likely have a hard time doing anything with your toddler on a step stool. At least I did.
The step stool only does one part of the job, it brings your little one to the counter. What it doesn’t do is free you to do other things. If you want to have peace of mind and actually get dinner on the table without the screaming (or a falling child), you need a learning tower.
In Conclusion
Using a step stool to keep your child busy will not solve all your problems. A kitchen helper tower will certainly give your child the safety he needs. It also provides you, the parent, the peace of mind you are looking for.
There are countless ways to keep your child happy on a kitchen learning tower while they learn new skills and get to see everything you do to keep the house running. It’s a win-win-win!
Vikki is the creator of Totsgo and the mother of two children. She is a passionate mother who enjoys assisting other parents.