Parents, Get A Library Stool For Your Kitchen

For many, this rolling rubber apparatus conjures up visions of your local public library.

You might find them sprinkled throughout the aisles (although they have a way of disappearing whenever you need one the most). They’ve got that wider shelf to hold your books while you step up to snag an out-of-reach title, and it locks into place with surprising satisfaction so you won’t tumble over with an armful of paperbacks.

Sure, it’s great to have in the library. But where does this stool really belong? In the kitchen of a parent with young children.

I wish I could say this was my idea—and even more, I wish I’d had this idea back when my son was little. But it was actually educator Ethan Schoonover who is responsible for gifting me with this brilliance:

I recommend these to folks from time to time so here’s a video explaining why I like library stools for the kitchen. pic.twitter.com/tRGivgc7wd

— Ethan “Mr.E” Schoonover (@ethanschoonover) May 28, 2019

Why they’re great

• They roll, which means it’s one less thing you have to pick up to move. Simply kick it into place (great for frustration release!). Or better yet, let your kid push-roll it into position themselves.

• When you (or your kids) step on it, it locks into place. These things are weirdly sturdy. You’ll find yourself kicking-and-stepping long after the kids grow up.

• Wrap-around bumpers! I can still hear the noise my son’s wooden stool would make as he slammed it into position against my kitchen cabinets to wash his hands. Your cabinets and furniture will not suffer the same fate.

• Your kid is going to find endless uses for that little shelf.

Apparently, at least according to the responses on Schoonover’s tweet, this is something that a lot of people’s grandmas used in their kitchens back in the day. Now is the time to do grandma proud, and roll them back into our lives for the next generation.