One of the questions that I have been getting more often as Augustus gets older is, "how do you keep Gus off of the older kid's stool?" And, the short answer is always the same -- I don't. But, over the last couple weeks, it has become clear that Gus now realizes he can use the stool for more than a stationary climber. It has become his tool too.
Gus has started to push the stool from its "spot" to where he would like to access. Usually, it's been one of two places -- right to the counter a quick push away to raid the fruit bowl or to the light switches in the kitchen. These aren't things that I have had to show him because he watches Henry and Nora use the stool as well. But, it's also not something I'm going to stop. I want him to feel like he can independently manipulate his environment.
Maria Montessori was clear that children need to be able to move and act independently in their environment. Their development occurs because of their movement and interaction with the things around them. The more opportunities we can give our children to act on their natural desires, the better. Sometimes this means, creating some opportunity for them. But other times it means allowing some activity that, at first, makes us a bit uneasy.
As Maria said, "Children develop their brains as well as their bodies through movement, and in the process of concentration, self-discipline, and perseverance with an active interest, the foundations of character are laid. To give our children a fine start in life we must see that their surroundings satisfy their need for activity and development, remembering at the same time that our own part is not that of instructor and interferer but of helper and friend."
I know that this can make some people nervous. They immediately want to build a cage around this stool to keep their child from falling. But, I will say that Nora started using this very same stool at 13 months old (Gus is 15 now, showing you how different children are), and she fell once. They learn the natural boundaries very quickly. My problem with the learning tower built around it is that it's much harder to move around then. And, they don't always need the stool in just one spot!
Now, this doesn't mean that I just let Gus go free! In a, "good LUCK, buddy!" sort of way. No, I'm still present. Here is a few tips to keep in mind when you have a young toddler just starting to use a stool:
- stay close especially at first
- use a sturdy stool that brings your child to the right height - we love ours
- resist the urge to place your child on the stool, let him/her climb up independently, they really will be safer this way
- let your child figure out the safest way to get down from the stool
- make sure your environment is toddler-proof at the stool height - move dangerous things like knives or chemicals to a new spot or in locked areas
Do you provide a stool for your toddler?
