Importance of step stool in a toddlers life!

I would say the best purchase we have made for Ritu till date is a step stool. It is the most used thing by her. Every toy or puzzle looses her interest after sometime. But this is used every single day even after almost an year.

Trying out step stools to buy at TJ Max on April 14, 2014. We got this blue one where Minnie mouse is sitting

There are different ways she uses this step stool. She steps on it to see or reach things which would not be possible otherwise. She sits on the lower step and keeps her book or plate on the top step, thus using it as a table-chair combo. She also sits on the top step and dangles her feet to the other side.

Several times I have felt a sense of empowerment in her when she runs to grab her stool and push it to wherever she wants to use it(mostly to the kitchen counter when I am cooking something). This stool has helped her in taking part in all the baking and cooking that happens in this house. She loves mixing the flour. She loves playing with chappathi dough. She loves to watch me chop vegetables. She is always ready to help me out with washing dishes, vegetables and fruits. Though it is a wooden stool, since it is small she can even lift it if she wants to use it in other parts of the house where the floor is carpeted.

Few days back I was making puttu(steamed rice flour with grated coconut). I had mixed the rice flour with required amount of water and kept on the counter. She came with her stool and started mixing the flour. She asked Arun who was standing beside her, "Acha upumavu veno"(do you want upma?). When he said yes, she said " Ready aayilla. Wait OK?"(it's not yet ready) and continued mixing the flour.

It could cause little inconvenience for moms at times. You might end up with some flour spilling which will keep you guessing whether that was all flour or all of the baking powder that was not mixed in properly. Your almost round chappathis might get squished and poked in a mere blink. More Raspberries might go down the drain than what you thought. Anything you kept away from your kids reach might still be accessible for them with the help of this stool. But still I would say you should dare and buy one for your little one because it makes life so much more easy and fun for them!