This is a great time to buy the tower for your favorite mom.

If you’re not sure whether the tower would be right for you, check out this informative page about the Learning Tower. It will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

But you’ve got to buy it from this page at AnotherBanana.com to get the special pricing.

It’ll be a lot easier with a Learning Tower, though. Read about how this product works to help your toddler get involved.

Learning Tower: Safety and versatility

It’s a run-down of how the tower compares to a regular step stool. Here’s how I understood the point: the tower isn’t just about being able to reach higher, it’s about being comfortable up there. And any regular step stool that could get a kid high enough to really help out at the counter wouldn’t be safe for a little kid to be on.

Hilary over at TheSuburbanZoo writes, “I was cooking something on the stove recently and Ethan was in his Learning Tower next to me and was talking about a blue flower. I looked all around…was there a blue flower on any cans, boxes, etc…?”

Turns out the “blue flower” was the flame on the gas stove, and this turned into a great teaching moment about how flames are beautiful but hot.

But my point is that the Learning Tower helped this mom and son be connected and in conversation while in the midst of household tasks. Without it, Ethan would have been somewhere on the floor either doing his own thing or tugging at his mom’s legs. The “conversation” wouldn’t have happened.

Learning Towers are a bit like babywearing; they make connections happen even when there isn’t anything else going on.

Other things to notice: this kid is very proud of himself and excited about his new spot up high. Also this is a nice view of a red learning tower in an actual home.

You’ll notice that at its highest the platform is just about lined up with the holes in the side–this is so kids who “belly slide” into the tower have an easy time of it.

The link opens in a new window: climbing into the learning tower

First off, adjust the Learning Tower to the proper height and bring it over to the counter. Cut five apples into pieces. A great way to do this with kids is to use a corer/slicer. The best ones have a radial pattern of cutting blades and wide handles. Since you just push down on the fruit, a young child can use one with help or supervision and have little chance of getting hurt.

If your child isn’t ready for this, you can do it your self in just a couple of seconds and put the apple slices aside.

Now, have your child measure out 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of sugar into a bowl. Add a teaspoon or so of cinnamon and perhaps a pinch of salt. Give it a good mix.

Send the child over to the fridge for a stick of butter. On a cutting board or plate, cut it into small pieces. The child can do this with a table knife if they’re ready for that. 

Put the butter into the dry ingredient mix and cut it in with a pastry blender or — better for the kids but messier — the kids fingers. You want the butter pieces all covered in flour and smaller than peas. It’s a lot of messy fun to do this by hand.

The child can place the apple slices into a baking dish and then sprinkle the butter/flour/sugar mixture over the top. Stick it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or so — until it’s bubbly — then let it cool and enjoy! 

The learning tower makes this activity more enjoyable because the child is right up there at the counter with you.

That’s right. The Learning Tower is just as helpful in other areas of the house. Think of any place where you’re doing something “up high” from your kids’ perspective.

Like the workshop. Now, just like the kitchen, the workshop can be a dangerous place. And just like the kitchen, it’s fascinating to kids.

So instead of making the workshop “off limits,” why not find a great solution that will keep your kids involved. With the Learning Tower you can give kids access to part of the workbench while you’re down at the other end. Stick a piece of soft wood in a vice and give them a metal file to work with. Or a marking scribe to make lines on the wood. Or a screwdriver and some pre-drilled holes. Anything safe will do. Your child will be happily occupied and will also stay just where you put them.

Please note, though, that if you’re working with any kinds of solvents or other chemicals, or any power tools or anything else that could be dangerous or too noisy, then the kids shouldn’t be anywhere near the shop.

Chocolate chip cookies are a great way to do this. Kids love them, of course. And if the kids are right up there at countertop level, they’ll get involved in what you’re doing in the kitchen. You won’t have to worry about them tipping over a chair that they’re standing on. Instead, you can concentrate on helping them learn how to do things in the kitchen. Think of the confidence they’ll gain from the positive experience.

Sometimes my kids have wanted to help me in kitchens where we don’t have a learning tower. Like at grandma’s house. So they sit up on the counter, their legs dangling in the way of the utensil drawer, and they try to measure and pour and stir, but the problem is that their legs are in the way and the bowls are lower than their lap. You know the story.

By using the tower in the kitchen you can have the kids help you measure the sugar, mix it in with the butter, and cream in the eggs. They can measure the two cups of flour and the baking soda and salt. Even the chocolate chips, though you’re going to have to be careful of little fingers getting in there and eating them up.

Enjoy!