Is a Montessori Kitchen Helper Worth It?

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You may have seen them all over social media- cute pictures of kids helping in the kitchen while standing in some sort of kitchen tower. They’re adorable. But they’re expensive. So is a Montessori kitchen helper actually worth it or is this just some Instagram marketing scam?

What is a Montessori Kitchen Helper?

A kitchen helper (also called a kitchen aid, learning tower, or a kitchen tower) is a Montessori inspired tool to help your child be included in the kitchen.  It’s a simple platform with railings around the sides to help kids stand counter height without falling over.

There’s different variations- some have just one bar across the top, some have no bars, some completely close the kids in on all four sides.  Some come up higher than others and look more like a giant step stool.  There’s even some that are extra large and have room for multiple kids.

Naturally, there’s also a wide price range. You can go cheaper for closer to $50 or spend over $200. There’s also plans available online for how to build your own if you’re handy.

But when I first saw these I thought, “that’s neat- but do I really need one?  They’re so expensive.”  But as I kept trying to include my oldest daughter in the kitchen with me, we were running into more frustration than fun.  Eventually I decided to go for it in hopes that it would be worth it.  And I am SO GLAD I did.

If you’re on the fence about splurging on a kitchen helper here’s my honest opinion (and why we went with the kind we bought).

Is a Montessori Kitchen Helper Worth It?

For us- it was definitely a splurge, but it was so worth it. Here’s why:

1. Involvement in the Kitchen

It has helped us SO MUCH with our children being involved in the kitchen. (Be sure to check out that post here of how we involve our children from birth in the kitchen with us.)

They can be safely at counter height to easily prep, transfer, and mix and pour. I’m not putting them on the counter or on a chair where they’re likely to get distracted and tumble off.

I don’t have to get on the floor with them for them to mix ingredients nor do I have to hope they don’t crawl right on off the counter. Things from everyday meal prep to holiday cookie decorating are SO MUCH easier and enjoyable because they’re at the counter with you.

2. Increased Independence

Toddlers and preschoolers crave independence. Being able to climb up independently and reach the counter greatly increases their ability to complete tasks and do things that help them feel independent.

My preschooler loves making her own peanut butter sandwiches- the kitchen helper is a great place for her to do that. She also loves being able to help me add things to an Instant Pot or a slow cooker. The fact that she can climb up there on her own and doesn’t need me to lift her onto the counter has greatly increased her feelings of independence and self-sufficiency.

2. Keeping Them in a Safe Place

It’s a safe place to keep them from being underfoot. (We nicknamed kitchen helper a trapper keeper- and for good reason!)

Terrified of your toddler barreling full speed into the open oven while you’re trying to remove a dish?  Me too.

The kitchen helper is a safe place to put them when you need them to be in a secure location.  I’ve done this with my baby ever since she started crawling. I’ll just plop her in the kitchen helper for whenever I need to get into the oven.

Have a toddler or a preschooler that likes to be right up next to you so much that you end up literally falling over them?  Put them in the kitchen helper.  They can help or they can just hang out and munch on a snack, but it keeps them in one spot and from tripping you up.

3. It’s Great for More Activities than Just Cooking

We use our kitchen tower for so many more activities than just cooking. 

Messy crafts, science experiments, activities that involve water- anything that could get a bit messy (or that I don’t want on my couch or wall) we do right in the kitchen helper.

It’s a great place to let them explore with different materials and I’m not stressed about the mess.

We also use it at the sink. Our preschooler has used it to wash produce and to help bathe her baby sister.

4. It’s Helped Our Children be More Adventurous Eaters

Hear me out on this one. Having kids help in the kitchen is a great way to encourage them to be more adventurous eaters.  Seeing how the food is prepared from start to finish can really reduce anxiety about what the final result is going to taste like.

Plus- young kids tend to like trying one ingredient at a time.  Having them just hang out in the kitchen helper while you cook helps them sample the meal as it comes along.

My preschooler loves hanging out in the kitchen with me while I chop and  she often asks to “munch.”  This has led her to trying more raw veggies than I would ever have imagined.  

5. It Helps Kids Focus Longer

Ever feel like you set up an activity just to have your toddler or preschooler run off- distracted by something else?

When they’re in a kitchen tower, it’s much easier for them to stay in once place and focus. Other distractions are reduced and they’re less likely to wander off (especially if they can’t climb down yet on their own.)

My girls naturally focus longer on a task or activity when they’re in one place with reduced distractions. A kitchen helper is a great place for that.

6. Honestly- It’s Nice Storage

So clearly our kids aren’t in this all day long.

So we’ve found ourselves using it as a place to set grocery bags at a higher height while we unload groceries.

Having a get together with a bag of ice?  Plop it in the kitchen helper!

Definitely not a reason to buy one- but an unexpected perk!

So Why Would We Recommend the Model That We Eventually Purchased?

We got this one from Amazon and I’ve been grateful for it every day for one main reason: the safety it provides.

When I first started looking for kitchen helpers the ones that had cute little moon cutouts on the side enamored me.  But then I pictured those as footholds for potential climbers and ruled those out.

I also wanted one that had a mesh covering on both sides that I could secure to keep little ones from toppling out. The mesh covering latches shut on BOTH SIDES. My preschooler is able to open it and climb up independently; my toddler can’t. This let me start putting my second daughter in it as soon as she was sitting up- just to keep her safe for a few minutes.

The weight of this one is also substantial. It’s light enough that I can easily drag it around the kitchen if we’re working in a different area. However, it’s solid enough that my toddler can’t move it by herself so that she can more easily access where I store breakable china….

Ours is also large enough to hold both my toddler and preschooler together. As they grow it might be more crowded, but for now it’s working great.

Bonus: the platform does adjust to different levels.  This helped as our daughter grew. We could start off with it high and then lower it as she needed it.

And while I did pick ours as well because it folds up for easier storage, we honestly use it so much that in three years of owning it, we’ve never put it away.  Not even for a day.

Closing Thoughts

Yes it’s a splurge.  Has it fundamentally changed the way I include my children in the kitchen with me?  Absolutely.  Has it been worth it? 1000 times yes.  Has it been even more practical than I originally expected?  More than I could ever imagine.

If there was one item for your home that I would say “yeah- splurge on it”- this just might be it.

And if you’re looking for more ways to involve your babies, toddlers, or preschoolers in the kitchen, don’t forget to check out that post here: Getting Kids Involved in the Kitchen: From Babies to Preschoolers.