The Step Stool Chef is a kid entrepreneurial venture that began by listening to four simple words: “I can do it”. It was Julian's 3rd birthday and it was the coldest day of the year. The whole family was snowed in and all of their plans to celebrate had been cancelled. They made the most of the chilly day filled with snow angels, snow men and snowball fights, but what’s a birthday without birthday cake. As luck would have it, they had all the ingredients needed to make a homemade cake using an old family recipe.

As Julian’s mom began to prepare to make the cake, she heard Julian shout out… “I can do it”. He wanted to make his own birthday cake so that he could wear his new chef’s jacket that he received for Christmas. His mom’s first instinct was to say “no, let mommy do it”. Saying no felt easier and the right decision considering that he was only three years old. Plus, she knew it would make a big mess that she would have to clean up.

However, she quickly realized that kids can rise to the occasion once given a chance. So with the assistance of a step stool and a little help from mommy, my budding chef did a great job making his cake. And regarding clean up… well, he did that too. He was beaming with such a sense of pride and confidence that she had never seen before.

Now, Julian is on a mission to help share that same feeling of pride and accomplishment with other kids when they cook on their own.