"Small kids live in this house, and I wanted our home to reflect that," says Amanda Demelo, an Instagram creator known for her slow living, fashion, and parenting-focused content. However, Demelo also wanted the spaces in her home to feel intentional—not overwhelmed in plastic clutter.
Recently, she shared how she styles child-friendly spaces using Piccalio pieces. Let's explore how Demelo meets her children's needs with spaces that enable independence and inspire creativity.
Image Courtesy of Amanda Demelo
Creating Space for Kids in the Kitchen
Demelo involves her children in the kitchen using our Foldable Helper Tower. Giving children a boost up to the countertops and sink, the Helper Tower makes it easy for little ones to help. Plus, it creates opportunities for quality family time together.
Using real dishes, Demelo's little ones stir, mix, and pour as they help make muffins. These Montessori practical life activities build real-life skills such as:
- Fine motor skills
- Confidence
- Cooking
- A base of understanding for science and math
Why a Helper Tower? The Kitchen—Montessori Style
Using a helper tower is a popular alternative to a play kitchen. Instead of pretend play with pretend foods, children can make snacks and help prepare meals. Using a cutting board, children can chop up a banana and then serve it in a bowl with some yogurt. Or, they can help stir pancake batter or wash dishes.
Children love helping. Helping not only builds real-life skills, but also builds their self-confidence. Plus, evidence shows that children who help cook are more likely to try fruits and vegetables.
A helper tower makes it easy for children to access the counters and participate in everyday kitchen tasks. Using a helper tower does require supervision. Unlike a toy kitchen, a real kitchen has some things that should be off-limits for little ones, like knives. That said, you can purchase a child's kitchen set or put child-safe tools (like our Mini Cutter knife) in a special low cupboard they can reach.
Here are some tips from a Montessori teacher on using a helper tower safely.
Our Foldable Helper Tower is ideal for small kitchens because you can tuck it away when not in use. As Demelo said, "It's a part of our home and a part of my kids' everyday life. It doesn't add to the clutter or noise of a small house."
Practical Tips for Using a Kids Play Table and Chairs
Image Courtesy of Amanda Demelo
Demelo has our Large Play Table and two Reversible Chairs in her kitchen. "It actually makes my life so much more peaceful by giving my children intentional spaces where they can just be kids," she explained.
Her three children use the table for drawing, arts and crafts, and enjoying a snack. Sometimes, she offers them a roll of paper and crayons to encourage their creativity. Other popular activities to offer at a play table include:
- Homemade playdough
- Painting
- Building with blocks
- Using stencils
- Making paper dolls
- Sewing
- Reading books
- Board games
- Puzzles
Keeping a play table and chairs in the kitchen is a practical choice. This way, children are busy close by as you clean, make a meal, or enjoy a hot cup of coffee.
How to Create Room for Children in a Small Home
Image Courtesy of Amanda Demelo
"Living in a small home with 3 (almost 4!) littles means being really smart with our space. My biggest tip is to make room for what actually matters to you," Demelo explained.
In her case, it means prioritizing her children's needs and well-being without sacrificing style. "Piccalio offers furniture that I don't have to tuck away in a corner," she said of the Montessori Bookshelf, Reversible Chair and Table Set, and Foldable Helper Tower.
For young families, helping boost independence is essential. When little ones don't need to rely on adults for everything, they feel confident, empowered, and happy. Each Piccalio piece helps children grow on their path to independence.
The Montessori Bookshelf is intuitive for little ones. They can easily pick out books, looking at the covers to find their favorite ones. The bookshelf's wide shelves make it easy to return books, too.
The Foldable Helper Tower also boosts independence. Children can hop up to wash hands at the sink or make a snack. Similarly, the Play Table and Chair enable children to enjoy self-directed play.
"Piccalio's furniture is beautiful and practical—making our space a home for our kids, too," Demelo said.
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