Comments on: The Learning Tower: Helping Toddlers and Young Children Participate In The Family Kitchen http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/ Green and Natural Parenting for Eco-Friendly Families Tue, 22 May 2012 02:23:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-303 Jennifer Lance Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:52:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.greenoptions.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-303 Thus far, I have always liked Guidecraft products, but this folding one does have bigger spaces for children to slip through. Space is an issue in our kitchen, as well. Sometimes, I just take things to the kitchen table where the kids can mix and pour at a lower height than the counter. Thus far, I have always liked Guidecraft products, but this folding one does have bigger spaces for children to slip through. Space is an issue in our kitchen, as well. Sometimes, I just take things to the kitchen table where the kids can mix and pour at a lower height than the counter.

]]> By: adrienne http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-302 adrienne Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:13:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.greenoptions.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-302 Our kitchen is big, but the island isn't very far from the counter, so the Learning Tower might be too big for our space.<br/><br/>I started looking for something smaller and found this folding version:<br/>http://www.shopatron.com/product/product_id=GDCG97271/195.0<br/><br/>It's still too big for our passage space, and I have few concerns. Folding items are typically less stable than their static counterparts and this offers no height adjustment. Yet, this might be the right item for a space-strapped family.<br/><br/>The Fun Pod floor seems like a child leaning heavily on the walls could shoot it out of the slot with their feet (intentionally rather than accidentally). But that could make the child hard to extract from the floorless pod.<br/><br/>The FP's "durable, high quality wood-like material" sounds heavy too- like dorm furniture.<br/><br/>And, yet- I think the concept is great and would probably buy any of them if island were a little further from the counter.<br/><br/>Great topic and great review! Our kitchen is big, but the island isn’t very far from the counter, so the Learning Tower might be too big for our space.

I started looking for something smaller and found this folding version:
http://www.shopatron.com/product/product_id=GDCG97271/195.0

It’s still too big for our passage space, and I have few concerns. Folding items are typically less stable than their static counterparts and this offers no height adjustment. Yet, this might be the right item for a space-strapped family.

The Fun Pod floor seems like a child leaning heavily on the walls could shoot it out of the slot with their feet (intentionally rather than accidentally). But that could make the child hard to extract from the floorless pod.

The FP’s “durable, high quality wood-like material” sounds heavy too- like dorm furniture.

And, yet- I think the concept is great and would probably buy any of them if island were a little further from the counter.

Great topic and great review!

]]> By: Jeremiah McNichols http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-301 Jeremiah McNichols Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:49:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.greenoptions.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-301 There is a risk associated with the Learning Tower, but it one is shared by the Fun Pod: Kids can fall out the TOP, not through the gap at the bottom. This is because it can be tempting to sit on the top rail, put feet up on it, etc. This is a potential hazard with any "tower" device you use, and I've seen enough unsafe ways to sit, let alone stand, in a chair to know that a toddler who wants to take risks is capable of finding them in any situation.<br/><br/>As for the gap at the bottom, it is what allows your child to get in and out of the Learning Tower himself. In that sense I guess it could be safer to use the Fun Pod if you were concerned about your child using the Learning Tower "without permission." This comes down to parenting style and your own toddler more than anything - we really value Z's ability to get up in the Learning Tower of her own volition (it's very easy for her to get in and out of safely), we generally keep the Learning Tower in its corner when not in use, as opposed to leaving it by the counter, and we have basic rules for using it which, if she violates them, we pull her out and she can't use it for a few minutes.<br/><br/>Given our daughter's temperament and our generally relaxed parenting style, and given how much she LOVES using her Learning Tower, this has a huge impact on her behavior! The worst we had it was a couple-month "testing" phase where she thought she could get away with carefully "showing" us what it was that she WASN'T supposed to do (that's toddler logic for you).<br/><br/>So that's the tradeoff - a bit more toddler autonomy vs. insurance that your child will not climb up into the tower when you aren't looking. All other risks, in my opinion, are identical with either device, and based on your supervision of your child's behavior. There is a risk associated with the Learning Tower, but it one is shared by the Fun Pod: Kids can fall out the TOP, not through the gap at the bottom. This is because it can be tempting to sit on the top rail, put feet up on it, etc. This is a potential hazard with any “tower” device you use, and I’ve seen enough unsafe ways to sit, let alone stand, in a chair to know that a toddler who wants to take risks is capable of finding them in any situation.

As for the gap at the bottom, it is what allows your child to get in and out of the Learning Tower himself. In that sense I guess it could be safer to use the Fun Pod if you were concerned about your child using the Learning Tower “without permission.” This comes down to parenting style and your own toddler more than anything – we really value Z’s ability to get up in the Learning Tower of her own volition (it’s very easy for her to get in and out of safely), we generally keep the Learning Tower in its corner when not in use, as opposed to leaving it by the counter, and we have basic rules for using it which, if she violates them, we pull her out and she can’t use it for a few minutes.

Given our daughter’s temperament and our generally relaxed parenting style, and given how much she LOVES using her Learning Tower, this has a huge impact on her behavior! The worst we had it was a couple-month “testing” phase where she thought she could get away with carefully “showing” us what it was that she WASN’T supposed to do (that’s toddler logic for you).

So that’s the tradeoff – a bit more toddler autonomy vs. insurance that your child will not climb up into the tower when you aren’t looking. All other risks, in my opinion, are identical with either device, and based on your supervision of your child’s behavior.

]]> By: Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-300 Jennifer Lance Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:43:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.greenoptions.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-300 I forwarded your comment to Jeremiah. We have always used a kitchen chair, and yes, my son has fallen off of it. I think the Learning Tower is more aesthetically pleasing than the Little Helper, but the Little Helper does appear safer with the solid sides. It will be interesting to hear what Jeremiah thinks, since I don't have experience with the product. I forwarded your comment to Jeremiah. We have always used a kitchen chair, and yes, my son has fallen off of it. I think the Learning Tower is more aesthetically pleasing than the Little Helper, but the Little Helper does appear safer with the solid sides. It will be interesting to hear what Jeremiah thinks, since I don’t have experience with the product.

]]> By: Anonymous http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-299 Anonymous Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:07:00 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.greenoptions.com/2007/04/15/the-learning-tower-helping-toddlers-and-young-children-participate-in-the-family-kitchen/#comment-299 I have been looking at the Learning Tower as I want something for my daughter for the kitchen too - have you seen the Fun Pod - similar to the LT but from the UK. It seems much safer than the Learning Tower as it has solid sides - what do you think. Check out www.littlehelper.co.uk I have been looking at the Learning Tower as I want something for my daughter for the kitchen too – have you seen the Fun Pod – similar to the LT but from the UK. It seems much safer than the Learning Tower as it has solid sides – what do you think. Check out http://www.littlehelper.co.uk

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