About two weeks ago, Jude’s recently-purchased Learning Tower arrived via UPS delivery. It staid in the entrance to our apartment for a few days until I was able to find the time to attempt assembly on my own.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Learning Tower, allow me to take a brief moment to describe the apparatus. The Learning Tower, at it’s root, is a glorified step stool for toddlers and young children. Please don’t let that kind of harsh description soil your opinion of it: it’s an awesome piece of furniture! It has an adjustable platform for the kids to stand on, a wide base to prevent tipping, and is semi-enclosed on all four sides so that little ones have less of a chance of falling off/out. Plus (plus!) it can support up to 500 pounds, so it doubles as a safe step stool for mom and/or dad!

So, what good is a Learning Tower? Well, let me tell you–it allows children to (safely!) be at counter height in the kitchen, which in turn affords them the opportunity to watch or engage in what mom or dad are doing. For me, this was the number one reason for purchasing. Most kids, and Jude is certainly no exception, love to take part in the world around them. It’s how they learn. Since acquiring our Learning Tower, Jude has ‘helped’ me make dough for bread, chop veggies for meal time, assemble sandwiches for lunch, and wash dishes! He has learned (or is on his way to learning) that half of one cup is 1/2 cup, that there are three teaspoons in a tablespoon, and that mama curses when she forgets to mix cold water with the hot water while washing dishes. Hooray for learning!

The Learning Tower can also be used as a stage for puppet/pretend play or as a place to sit and eat snacks. Little Partners are nice enough to send along a cloth drape to cover the Learning Tower and to assist with play time. (Note: Drape doubles as a cape.)

So, onto my (well, our) experience with assembly through playtime. I was amazed as how easy the Learning Tower was to put together. It would have been even easier if I had had some (adult) help (and if someone hadn’t hidden two pieces on me!), but I was able to put it together, fairly quickly, and with only stripping four screws (a personal best!). The instructions were clear, and the pieces were well-labeled.

The unit is very, very sturdy. It is also on the heavy side (though Jude can push it around at will *sigh*), and definitely on the bulky side (read: not fantastic for small kitchens). The platform adjusts to four different heights. In other words, it grows with your kids! As your child gets taller, you simply lower the platform. You should note that the Learning Tower is available in a number of different colors/finishes, so you can (with any luck) match it to your kitchen space.

Our Learning Tower has, honestly, changed Jude’s and my day-to-day lives. He loves playing at the kitchen counter while I work in the kitchen. Tupperware and measuring cups have never been as much fun (or gotten so much use!) as they are now. And, the truly amazing part of all of this is that Jude will actually play by himself a little bit if he has access to the Learning Tower! He will happily allow me to fold clothes, so long as I bring them into the kitchen and hang out with him while he stacks his blocks or pours raisins from one container to the other and all over the kitchen floor.

In short, we LOVE the Learning Tower. If you’re looking for a way to include you child in your day-to-day tasks, don’t hesitate to purchase one. It is well worth the investment.

Finally, here’s a video of Jude playing on his Learning Tower.

Check out my other Product Reviews.