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Prior to having kids, I spent a ton of time in the kitchen. Cooking is my love language, and I used to spend hours both pouring over cookbooks and devising my own recipes (ah, the nostalgia of free time!). While cooking looks a little bit different now, I’ve always been keen to get my kids involved in preparing meals by helping out in the kitchen. The best way to achieve this is with a learning tower -- a step stool that boosts your toddler to counter height, allowing them to be fully immersed in the experience. It’s critical to success, but most towers are total eyesores, so I made it my mission to find one that would function well and look even better. When I spotted Audwell’s Oslo Tower ($285), I knew it was the one!
Credit: Audwell
A Place For Your Little Sous Chef
First and foremost, if you want your toddler involved in the kitchen, you need to make them feel involved. That means getting them up to the counter so they can easily wash their hands, crack eggs, mix ingredients, or even just observe what you’re up to. You want them to be immersed in the full experience, not standing on the floor unable to see what’s going on. The Oslo Tower has an adjustable platform height (at 12.5” and 17.25” from the ground) to grow with your little ones, so they’re always at the optimal height. It also has a slightly smaller footprint than the average learning tower, meaning it fits under most counters and is easy to store. My daughter Ellie loves it so much and it’s really fun to give her little tasks, like measuring flour or washing vegetables, which give her a sense of accomplishment and help her understand real life experiences. In a way, it’s actually better than any number of educational toys. And as an added bonus, the tower actually helps kids develop motor skills like climbing and balance.
Making Mealtime Special
Have a picky eater? Try a learning tower! I swear there is something magical about “dinner in the tower.” Ellie will literally try anything and has so much more fun at mealtime. I’m not saying every dinner has to be a standing dinner, but sometimes this slight change of scenery helps her feel more “in charge” and she’s more open to eating different things. This is my secret trick -- any time I want to feed her something new, I’ll encourage her to climb up and help cut or prep it. She usually ends up trying the food throughout the process and it doesn’t even make it to the plate! Being in the tower at counter height gives her a strong sense of independence and ownership.
I swear there is something magical about “dinner in the tower.” Ellie will literally try anything and has so much more fun at mealtime. I’m not saying every dinner has to be a standing dinner, but sometimes this slight change of scenery helps her feel more “in charge” and she’s more open to eating different things. This is my secret trick -- any time I want to feed her something new, I’ll encourage her to climb up and help cut or prep it.
Take It Everywhere…Or At Least Down The Hall
Our Oslo Tower’s primary use is in the kitchen, but because it comes equipped with Furniture-Grade felt gliders to protect your floors, I never have to worry about my two year old dragging it around the house. In fact, she often brings it into the bathroom to brush her teeth or wash her hands (sounds silly, but it’s actually so cool that she can use it to reach the sink and see herself in the mirror!). It can also be pulled up to a breakfast bar or counter for coloring, painting, playdough, and more. And I love that it’s high quality enough to be passed down from one child to the next -- I know it’ll still be in pristine condition when my youngest is ready (though let’s be honest, Ellie won’t want to give it up and I’ll probably have to buy another).
Thoughtfully Designed and Expertly Crafted
It’s truly important to me that my home looks put together and that means sourcing chic, thoughtful pieces for our space. Sure, we’ve got tons of toys and they’re not always put away perfectly, but my general philosophy is that anything that lives in a common space (like the kitchen or dining room) needs to fit in with our general aesthetic. Almost every learning tower I found online was straight up ugly, super bulky, or both. By contrast, the Scandinavian-inspired Oslo Tower is legitimately gorgeous. Like, I wish they would make matching chairs for my dining table (or maybe just design a whole new kitchen for me…their taste is that good). I love the simplicity of the natural wood and white options, and that it’s crafted from exclusively nontoxic materials and FSC certified Baltic Birch.
Sure, we’ve got tons of toys and they’re not always put away perfectly, but my general philosophy is that anything that lives in a common space (like the kitchen or dining room) needs to fit in with our general aesthetic.
From form to function, I’ve been so impressed with Audwell’s Oslo Tower, and it’s so fun getting my toddler involved in the kitchen…this just might be the trick to get me back to my own love for cooking!
Check it out and learn more here.
Five More Reasons to Love Audwell:
- All Audwell products are designed and made in the USA with high-quality materials.
- The Tower is safety tested above and beyond standard requirements, with adjustable settings and a back bar to make sure your little stays put.
- It also comes with Furniture-Grade felt gliders to protect your floors...a necessary feature when you have a two year old dragging it around the kitchen!
- The brand’s recently launched Chef Apron ($45) is SO CUTE and can be embroidered with your child’s name (I’m dying to get one for “Chef Ellie”!)
- Audwell is part of 1% for the Planet’s pledge to contribute at least 1% of sales to environmental causes, and they’ve partnered with Eden Reforestation Project and One Tree Planted to plant a tree with every purchase made.
