Day-to-day life can become very frustrating for children who are too short to reach things such as the kitchen counter. Being a toddler means grasping a new sense of independence and learning how to do things on their own. They want to be able to pour their own juice. And make their own sandwiches. And more than anything, they want to be able to climb up on the counter to help themselves to the cookies awaiting just inside the kitchen cupboards.
However, being a toddler also means being pint-sized, and thus not being able to reach anything tall. They would even be happy to be able to reach the bathroom sink to wash their own hands, without help from an adult. And if you child wants to be able to wash their own hands, that says something, they are desperately wanting some independence. When they don't have a sense of independence they become very frustrated.
Folding Counter Stools
The ideal tool for a parent who wants to help out their toddler or help to instill within them more independence is a toddler sized step stool. With the help of a step stool the child can reach items by themselves, instead of needing help. Add a splash of color or cartoon fun by buying a step stool that is stylized with your child's favorite character. Stools can be found with many different themes from Spongebob Squarepants, Winnie the Pooh, Sesame Street or the Disney Princesses. There are also styles for your little sport enthusiast with themes from the NFL, MLB or NHL.
Many different types of stools can be found on the market today, ranging from single steps, two-stepped, and steps with a built-in storage area. Stools can also be personalized with your child's name. Also available are a few "deluxe" stools that offer more than just the simple single step stool.
Guidecraft makes a deluxe stool model called the Kitchen Helper. Designed with ease of storage in mind, the stool folds up and can be made to fit in areas with little space. The Guidecraft Kitchen Helper stool was also created with a raised platform. It also offers railing around all four sides and a wider platform floor, allowing for a safer area for your toddler to learn on and giving them more confidence to tackle these chores by themselves. Providing a step stool to a child allows them to learn things for themselves. A step stool can even help your toddler learn to turn the lights on and off and to reach the bathroom sink without your help.
While providing your toddler with more confidence and independence is a great thing, you may need to re-think where you stash your goodies in the kitchen, as you may now need to move them to a higher shelf.