The Journal

Stories, ideas,
and the science of play.

Why named objects change behavior, why beauty matters, and how a simple wooden step stool becomes a friend. Notes from the makers of Stobbi.

A child sitting on the toilet with a picture book, bare feet resting flat on Doe the Turtle
JournalOct 29, 2026

Potty Training with a Step Stool

How a toilet step stool helps a child get on, stay steady, flush and head to the sink on their own.

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A child standing on Mei the Butterfly in the entryway, hanging a denim jacket on a family coat hook
JournalOct 27, 2026

Montessori at Home, Room by Room

Kitchen, bathroom, entry, closet and living space: the practical life jobs a child can do once they can reach.

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A child standing on Mei the Butterfly at the kitchen counter, stirring pancake batter in a big bowl
JournalOct 26, 2026

One-Step or Two-Step Stool? Choosing a Small Step Stool

Measure the gap between your child and the sink, and the right height usually picks itself.

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A child standing on Ray the Panda at a bathroom vanity, washing their hands with soap
JournalOct 22, 2026

Wooden or Plastic Step Stool? How to Choose

Plastic is light, cheap and wipeable. Solid wood is steady, warm and built to last. Here is how to choose.

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A child standing on Doe the Turtle at the kitchen sink, rinsing apples under the tap
JournalOct 20, 2026

How to Choose a Children's Step Stool

Five things that decide whether a step stool earns its place, and what to look for in a wooden one.

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A child standing on Doe the Turtle at the bathroom sink, brushing their teeth
JournalOct 18, 2026

Montessori Bathroom Setup: A Step Stool for the Sink and the Toilet

A step stool at the sink, a step stool at the toilet, and the short list that lets a child wash, brush and go on their own.

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A young child standing on Ray the Panda at a kitchen sink, rinsing blueberries in a colander
JournalOct 15, 2026

Toddler Tower or Step Stool? How to Choose

They solve different problems. How to tell which one your child actually needs.

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A young child standing on a Stobbi at the kitchen counter, stirring a bowl
JournalOct 9, 2026

The Height Where the Day Happens

Most of a child's day runs along surfaces they cannot reach. Why access comes before willingness.

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A young child in striped pyjamas standing on Ray the Panda, washing their hands at the bathroom sink
JournalOct 1, 2026

This Is Not a Stool

Why we gave a step stool a name, a face, and something of its own to need.

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Transform Daily Routines: How Character-Based Step Stools Make Self-Care Educational
PlayJun 1, 2026

Transform Daily Routines: How Character-Based Step Stools Make Self-Care Educational

Young children repeat bathroom and kitchen routines many times a day. That repetition is powerful, and storyfication turns it into learning.

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Stobbi Hits Kickstarter Goal in Under a Week
KickstarterMay 12, 2026

Stobbi Hits Kickstarter Goal in Under a Week

Bringing premium craftsmanship to a market saturated with plastics. Giggles & You's debut product funds in less than a week.

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The Power of Storyfication: How Children Respond to Character-Driven Activity
StoryficationJan 14, 2026

The Power of Storyfication: How Children Respond to Character-Driven Activity

What if the problem isn't your child's willingness to listen, but how the task itself is being communicated? On buddies, not orders.

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Why Design Matters: Bringing Beauty and Imagination Back into Childhood
DesignJan 13, 2026

Why Design Matters: Bringing Beauty and Imagination Back into Childhood

Beauty isn't a luxury for a child; it's a nutrient for the soul. On natural materials, open-ended play, and the story in every object.

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