#stepstools

[greathomedepot]

Wood or Plastic Which is Better Material for Stools

So, here we will discuss which material step stool is best: Wood or plastic. Comparing the between a plastic and wooden stool you will get the answer

[curvychickfitness]

When some of the fam is tall and other is well... not 🤷🏽‍♀️🤣 #culpeppersareshort #haha #shortydoowops #davisandbryantaretall #family #texas #stepstools #munchkins #okimdone

[midwestmontessori]

Step stools for a Montessori home

A huge part of Montessori in the home is making everyday tasks accessible to the child. Even though we try to create work areas that are down at the child’s level (such as low shelves and a low table and chair), step stools are still needed for toddlers and preschool-aged children to be able to reach to work at the kitchen counter, wash their hands in the bathroom sink, and to use the “big” toilet independently. 

The main issue I see most often with step stools is that the stool is MUCH too short for the child to reach and work comfortably. Do any of these look familiar?

In each of the above examples, Charlotte (or our lovely model Giselle) are still much too short to reach and work comfortably. Each child may be able to see the counter and grab for things, but can she cut safely with a knife on a cutting board at approximately belly button level? Can she reach to turn on to faucet and get her own soap? Can she see herself in the mirror? Do her feet have a firm resting place while she sits on the toilet (which is actually best for elimination even in adults)? 

Sidenote: Special thanks to Giselle for helping me to demonstrate. She does have stools of an appropriate height accessible to her in her home.

So, while step stools can be found in most big box stores as well as many department and specialty stores, it is important to do a little research before purchasing to be sure to get a right fit for your child and space.

Here are a few items to keep in mind:

How tall are your kitchen counters? I have found that most stools out there are much too short for the average toddler when it comes to working comfortably at the kitchen counter.

How old/tall is your child? Children as young as 10-12 months (and even younger) who are steady on their feet can use a stool to reach the counter if it is tall enough. Learning towers are a good choice for children of this age for safety.

How much floor space is available? While some stools or learning towers can be nice, they often take up lots of space. Take a look and perhaps measure before making a big purchase.

Can my child use this particular model safely and independently? Inspect stools if you can. Test them to be sure they won’t teeter. Consider your child’s abilities and be sure that whatever you find will suit their skills and provide maximum opportunity for independence.

Stability or maneuverability? Some stools you’ll want your child to be able to move from one place to another. Others you’ll want to be steady (non-movable). For example, we have rubber pads on the bottom of our bathroom sink stool (that doesn’t move) where things might get slippery but we left them off the kitchen stool so Charlotte can push it wherever she needs to use it within the kitchen. Age and physical ability are also considerations, for safety. For a very young child you may want more stability (rubber pads) at first and then eventually more maneuverability (remove the pads).

Here are some stools and learning towers I have gathered to provide ideas This is certainly not an exhaustive list. There’s no perfect Montessori stool. It’s all about what works for your child, your space, and your budget. Enjoy!

Stools

Guidecraft High Rise Step Up - 16″ to the top step, 32″ overall height

IKEA Bekvam (or on Amazon here)- my all-time favorite. The top step is 19″ tall - perfect for the youngest of toddlers to reach standard height counters (ours are 36″). This one can be made into a learning tower very simply. The best part - it’s only $15. Charlotte used the IKEA hack learning tower with this stool from about a year old until she was 2 and then has used the stool alone ever since.

KidKraft Two Step - 13″ to the top step, great for taller/older children

IKEA Bolmen (or on Amazon here)- 9 7/8″ tall - This stool makes a great step up to the toilet seat for the under 3s. While it’s a bit too short for the sink for toddlers, it would work great for taller children in the bathroom or kitchen for just $8.

Summer Infant Little Looster - 8″ tall and a wonderful choice for the toilet as it wraps around providing lots of stability

Rubbermaid Small Stool - 7″ tall - a decent option for the toilet or for other uses for taller/older children

IKEA Forsiktig (or on Amazon here) - 5 1/8″ - While this would work for a toilet stool from around 2 years old (give or take based on the height and abilities of your child), I don’t LOVE it because it’s still too short for a child this young to rest their feet on while eliminating. BUT it does have a much smaller footprint (smaller in size) than the Bolmen mentioned above. I’m keeping ours for when Charlotte is a bit older and taller, but it does work for her now and if I didn’t have the space for the Bolmen it would be better than nothing!

IKEA Molger - 13 3/8″ tall, great for taller/older children; We actually use this as a chair for Charlotte for the art easel (on Amazon here).

Rubbermaid 2-Step Stool - 16″ tall

IKEA Trogen - about 10″ tall - another great one for the toilet or for older/taller children for the sink

Learning Towers

Lucy’s Learning Tower IKEA Hack - my personal favorite

Little Partners Learning Tower - height adjustable

Guidecraft Step-Up Kitchen Helper

Guidecraft Kitchen Helper - foldable and height adjustable

Guidecraft Contemporary Kitchen Helper - also foldable and height adjustable

DIY Helping Tower by Ana White - height adjustable and I do believe it can be made foldable as well

there are also more handcrafted towers on Etsy

We made our our own version of the Bekvam IKEA Hack for Charlotte. We did it this way so that the rails would be removable when she no longer needed them and the stool would still be able to be used (no holes). The fit was snug but was only held together by pressure, so it was stable, but not maneuverable by a child. We removed the rails when she was just over 2 years old.

We hope you enjoyed this round-up of step stools and learning towers! As I mentioned, this is certainly not an exhaustive list, but rather a few ideas to help you in your search.

Also check out our mini-tutorial on how we made Charlotte’s DIY learning tower here and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more Montessori inspiration!

[stepstools]

im going through a whore phase and its bad like its really bad

[stepstools]

lol @ all the guys from that concert bc i have a fever sux 2 suk

[stepstools]

if you snapchat me i might make you muffins 😏 @sarahzeller