I’ll never forget the moment right after my oldest’s first birthday when he pushed a kitchen chair up to the counter and swiped a second cookie from the bag.
It was a first: my baby was using his problem-solving skills to get the job done. Never mind that the job at hand was purely of the sugary variety (I’ve found that there’s nothing like the promise of a cookie to motivate the young and old alike).
It was amazing to watch the little guy use his noggin like that. And before long, he was refusing offers to help him reach things; he was independent and did not need assistance, thankyouverymuch.
The problem was that while he wanted to do things for himself, sometimes the actual climbing was beyond his skill set. What he lacked in coordination he made up for in toddler bravado.
My mom bought him a little stool with a handle that he could drag around and boy, did that thing get a few hundred miles on it by his second birthday.
It’s been fun to watch my younger two reach this toddler milestone as well. Now we have several step stools around the house. My favorite is in an upstairs bathroom; it has a decidedly vintage feel. No matter the style, step stools are great because they give toddlers a sense of independence and autonomy when there are so many things that they’re still unable to do on their own.
I’ve rounded up a great collection of toddler-size step stools, which I believe is one of the staples of the toddler years. Does your toddler have one?
Top Photo Credit: Little Sapling Toys
Mary Lauren Weimer is a social worker turned mother turned writer. Her blog, My 3 Little Birds, encourages moms to put down the baby books for a moment and tell their own stories. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
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