How to choose a schoolchild's chair for home

Purchasing a chair for a child is a responsible and serious task, because a schoolchild spends about 9 hours every day in a sitting position. All this time, a significant load is placed on his back and the product, selected only by appearance or price, becomes the cause of curvature of the spine, fatigue and a drop in academic performance. In addition, a child’s body is constantly growing and improper sitting leads to pain in the back and shoulders, scoliosis, and in worst cases, pinched spinal nerves. How to choose a chair for a schoolchild for home and what parameters are key?

What should a schoolchild's chair be like?

Chairs for children are made from strong, durable and environmentally friendly materials; they are safe and do not contain toxic components. Maintaining their natural body position contributes to the correct development of the child, the absence of pathologies and high comfort of activities. For these reasons, buying cheap and dubious products is simply unacceptable - a responsible approach to purchasing will avoid your child visiting doctors in the future.

Features of furniture for a first grader

The chair should provide comfortable long-term work and at the same time maintain the correct body position, forming the spine, let's try to figure out which one is better to choose for the student. These conditions will be met if the piece of furniture meets the following requirements:

1. During work, the child’s entire foot is on the floor. If the chair is generally suitable, but this requirement is not met, then a stand should be made.
2. The back of the chair covers both shoulder blades in width.
3. The coating of the product should not be too hard or soft.
4. The armrests are adjustable to the desired level, otherwise their presence will only do harm.
5. When sitting, your legs form a right angle, and the edges of the seat do not rest under your knees.
6. Furniture equipped with wheels is not suitable because it distracts from activities.
7. The product is designed exclusively for children - office furniture is undesirable, since it is produced for adults whose spine is already formed.

REFERENCE. The ideal option is a chair that “grows” simultaneously with the baby, the height of the seat and backrest of which is adjustable depending on the student’s height.

Main selection criteria

The main parameter with which to start choosing a chair for a child is its height. It is directly affected by the student’s height:

• for children whose height is less than 120 cm, the height of the chair is 32 cm;
• 120–130 cm – 36 cm;
• 130–140 cm – 38 cm;
• 140–150 cm – 40 cm;
• 150 cm and above – 42 cm.

The back of the product must correspond to the student’s back and exactly repeat its curves.

How to choose a chair for a schoolchild

Having decided on the listed parameters, it’s time to move on to choosing the type of chair, of which manufacturers offer several. The most popular:

1. Classic.They have the simplest design, which consists of a metal frame, a wooden or plastic seat and back. They must be selected in strict accordance with the characteristics of each child and are short-lived, because the angle of inclination and height are not adjustable. At the same time, they are quite durable and inexpensive.
2. Computer. They confidently support children weighing up to 60 kg, are equipped with a high backrest, and, as a rule, the ability to adjust the height of the seat and its depth. As for the backrest, in most cases it is 90 degrees and drops to 180 degrees. Not a bad option, considering the affordable cost and comfort when studying.
3. Orthopedic. An ideal option, since they are flexibly adjusted to the individual characteristics of the child, help to evenly distribute the load and relieve tension from the spine. Often such products are equipped with an adjustable, removable footrest. The main advantage is growth with a student of any age, and the disadvantage is the high cost.

It will be easier to purchase a suitable product if you choose it together with your child. It is recommended to take it with you to the store so that your baby can sit on each chair and evaluate its comfort. It is also important that the student likes the color, shape and upholstery material.

How to choose a chair for a first grader

Buying a chair for a first-grader is practically no different from choosing such an important product for older children. It is recommended that you take your kids with you to the store, since the furniture they like makes them more perseverant and more productive in their studies. In addition, having made a choice, you should carefully inspect all joints and seams for the presence of sharp edges or corners that could cause injury to the student. Chairs for the youngest schoolchildren are made exclusively from environmentally friendly materials, which is indicated in the certificate, which the seller must present to you upon request.

Correct student position at the table

A correctly selected chair is the key to good posture and proper development of the child, but does not guarantee this. To ensure that there is no fatigue after finishing your studies, and that concentration and attentiveness always remain at a high level, you must follow the rules of sitting at your desk:

• The feet are constantly on the floor (or stand), and the knees are bent at an angle of 90 degrees.
• Elbows lie on the tabletop.
• The back rests entirely on the back of the chair and is held at a right angle. It is advisable that the backrest be equipped with a lumbar support.
• The chest should not touch the edge of the table.
• While reading or writing, the head should not be tilted forward.
• The height of the table exactly matches the height of the student, which eliminates slouching or awkward placement of the elbows.

Ideally, the tabletop is also adjustable in angle. Since children have a shorter writing distance than adults, the notebook should be located closer, which is facilitated by its tilt at a right angle relative to the student’s view. Otherwise, the child will have to bend over and stoop his back.

A balanced approach to buying a chair for your child and following simple recommendations is the key to his healthy development and successful studies. The absence of fatigue and tension from prolonged sitting will allow the student to always remain energetic and cheerful.