5 Montessori Activities You Can Do Using a Learning Tower
Updated 30 August 2026
A learning tower can bring your child up to bench height so they can join a small part of the routine, with an adult close by and actively supervising. In this guide, Montessori-inspired simply means giving your child a real, manageable job instead of setting up a pretend version.
You do not need to turn the kitchen into a toddler cooking show. Start with one job you are already doing: washing fruit, pouring a cold ingredient, building a simple snack, wiping the bench or sorting safe utensils.
Before you begin: make the task smaller
Set up the Learning Tower fully before your child uses it, stay close and actively supervise throughout. Keep hot items, sharp tools, electrical appliances and choking hazards out of reach. The adult handles all cutting, cooking and appliance use. Raising Children Network's kitchen guidance covers these hazards and recommends never leaving a toddler unattended in the kitchen.
Choose a task that fits what your child can manage today. If the kitchen becomes busy or the activity stops feeling manageable, pause and try again another time. You can read the full Learning Tower care and safety guide before you begin.
Choose the activity that fits what you are already doing
| If you are already... | Your child can... | The adult handles... |
|---|---|---|
| Rinsing produce | Wash and place pieces in a bowl or colander | Cutting and moving hazards away |
| Preparing a cold mixture | Pour one pre-measured ingredient and stir | Measuring, recipe decisions and spill control |
| Making a familiar snack | Place prepared ingredients on a plate | Cutting, food suitability and choking or allergy decisions |
| Clearing the bench | Wipe a small clear area with a damp cloth | Anything breakable, hot or sharp |
| Putting tools away | Sort wooden spoons, silicone spatulas and measuring cups | Selecting which items are safe to handle |
1. Wash fruit or vegetables
Washing produce is an easy place to begin because the job is visible and has a clear finish.
What you need:
- a small bowl of cool water or access to the tap;
- a few pieces of fruit or vegetables;
- a colander or second bowl;
- a tea towel ready for splashes.
Move hot, sharp and electrical items away before bringing the Learning Tower to the bench. Your child can rinse one piece at a time and place it in the colander. You handle any cutting before or after the activity.
The carrot will survive a second rinse. The useful part is having one clear job from start to finish.
2. Pour and stir cold ingredients
Give your child one light container to pour and one bowl to stir. Pre-measure the ingredient, place the bowl within easy reach and keep the task away from the stove and electrical appliances.
Try pouring oats into a bowl, adding berries to yoghurt or stirring a cold mixture with a wooden spoon. If something spills, pause and wipe it up before continuing. A small pour is still a real contribution, even when half of it lands beside the bowl.
3. Build a simple snack
A simple snack works best when every ingredient is already prepared in a form your child eats comfortably.
The adult does all cutting and makes the decisions about allergies, choking hazards and food suitability. Your child can place prepared fruit on a plate, add toppings to a cracker or arrange familiar ingredients in their own order.
Keep the choice small. Two or three prepared ingredients are enough to create a job without turning the bench into a buffet.
4. Wipe the bench with water
Clear a small section of the bench and offer a damp cloth. Move breakable items, sharp tools and hot objects out of reach before your child begins.
Show one simple motion, then let your child wipe the clear area. Water is enough for this activity. The proper clean can still be the adult's job afterwards, which is a fairly accurate summary of cleaning with toddlers.
5. Sort safe kitchen tools
Choose a few safe items such as wooden spoons, silicone spatulas and measuring cups. Keep knives, glass, appliances and small loose parts out of reach.
Your child can place matching tools together, nest measuring cups or hand each item back to you. You might sort by type, size or where each tool belongs. There is no right performance to chase. The job finishes when the safe tools are back in their place.
One small job is enough
You do not need to try all five activities in one day. Washing a handful of blueberries or stirring one bowl can be the whole activity.
That is the practical value of a Learning Tower in this routine: it creates a place beside you for a short, supervised everyday job. If you are still deciding what suits your home, read how to choose a Learning Tower in Australia, or explore the Learning Tower range when you are ready.