How to choose a table for a first-grader

Most parents are interested in the question of choosing the right desk for a child who has just started school. And this is quite understandable. After all, every adult knows firsthand how important this is. A poorly chosen desk height can have a negative impact on your health. Vision problems, incorrect posture and additional stress on the internal organs of a still fragile body are among the consequences of a poor choice of furniture for studying. In addition, an inconvenient place can lead to inattention and poor performance of the child.

Requirements for a desk for a schoolchild, as set by doctors

Our experts have prepared valuable information that will help parents make the right choice.

Isolate the student's workplace

Which table to choose for a first grader? A computer desk is not the best option for doing homework, no matter what grade the child is in. Of course, the guys do a certain part of their work using a PC. But a desk for a personal computer is not suitable for working on lessons for many reasons.

Firstly, it has a more compact size and does not allow you to place all the necessary items. Secondly, open tabs constantly distract the child from his lessons. Thirdly, turning on the monitor irritates the nervous system and negatively affects the organs of vision.

For hobbies, drawing, modeling, reading and doing written assignments, a schoolchild needs a “correct” desk and a comfortable chair.

Why scoliosis occurs in children and how to avoid it - you can learn from this article

Where should a student's desk and chair be placed?

Not in a dark corner or in a common room. Ideally, a student should have a separate room with a properly equipped workplace and well-set lighting. This place should be bright, well ventilated and comfortable in all respects. An important criterion is the ability to complete lessons in natural light.

How to choose a desk for a first grader

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Furniture Features

The book-table has compact dimensions when folded. Consists of 2–3 tabletops connected by hinges. One surface is stationary. And the other or two side ones, as needed, open up in the form of a book and are held on supports.

Furniture advantages:

Small dimensions.
Suitable for small spaces.
The table easily expands and expands 2-3 times.

The main disadvantages of the table:

Since it only has two legs, the furniture is not very stable.
The carrying capacity of the table-book is small; it cannot be heavily loaded.

Small dimensions

Suitable for small spaces

Easily folds out Size options depending on model

Manufacturers produce many types of folding furniture designed for different purposes. The dimensions of the table depend on its model.

Standard

The standard table is designed for the kitchen. Produced in several standard sizes:

The unfolded product is 1.3–1.5 m long, 0.6–0.85 m wide. Folded – 0.85–0.8 m. Suitable for any room, small or large.
Classic standard. Dimensions of the unfolded structure: width 0.4–0.8 m, length 1.2–1.8 m. Parameters of the assembled product 0.4–0.8 m. This table is suitable for a narrow kitchen.
The model measures 0.4–0.6 m when folded, 1.4–0.6 m when opened. Suitable for small spaces.

Standard sizes of dining tables of various shapes In a small kitchen, you can place a narrow table 0.3 m wide and 1.2 m long. When folded, the size is 0.3–0.6 m. This product is designed for two users. It may have one or two additional surfaces, the supports are located diagonally.

Dining

A standard table for eating has the following dimensions: width 0.6–0.8 m, length 1.3–1.6 m. This furniture can comfortably accommodate four people.

Manufacturers also produce large tables for the dining area. When opened, they are much more spacious than standard analogues: length 1.55–2.3 m, width 0.8–0.9 m. When assembled, the parameters are 0.85–0.8 m. A large group of guests can be seated at the table . Their number can reach 10 people.

Manufacturers also offer narrow, elongated tables. Width 0.4 m, length 1.4–2.4 m. This is roomy furniture, which is convenient for dining and celebrating holidays.

Old style

Narrow double-sided book tables have been produced since Soviet times. Previously, their dimensions were 0.3–0.85 m, and when unfolded, 1.7–0.85 m. When one lid was opened, the dimensions of the furniture were 1–0.85 m.

Models of this type are still produced today. Their features:

When assembled, the item looks like a cabinet. The lids fold out on both sides. Placed on supports made of wood or metal.
A die is attached to the bottom; it makes the furniture stiffer and more stable. Additionally serves as a small shelf.
The configuration of the canvases is rectangular, sometimes there are oval analogues.

Writing

Manufacturers offer a wide range of furniture designed for office work, study, and handicrafts. It is very popular as it makes it possible to make maximum use of the surface of the countertop. Typical dimensions of a desk-book for writing:

The length of a single-sided table when opened is 1.2 m, double-sided 1.6 m (half open 1.1 m).
Width 0.2 m.
When folded, the dimensions are 0.2–0.6 m.

Standard sizes of dining tables of various shapes

Additionally, the design is equipped with open shelves. It is not uncommon for her to have 2-4 drawers in vertical supports. They are suitable for storing small items.

Magazine

In the guest room, living room, bedroom, you can put a coffee version of a folding table. A feature of such products is their smaller sizes:

Height 0.35–0.65 m.
Width 0.6 m.
The length of the unfolded furniture is 0.8-1.1 m.
The parameters of the assembled product are 0.2–0.5 m.

The tabletop fits a minimum number of items. Manufacturers often equip furniture with small wheels. This makes it possible to move the table from one room to another. Drawers and shelves are placed under the work surface. You can put magazines, books, small things there. The compact product does not take up much space, thanks to this it can be placed in the hallway, loggia and even on the balcony. But more often it is placed in the living room, decorating the tabletop with souvenirs or living plants.

Standard sizes of desks and student desks, height standards

Desk height for a first grader. Choosing a table based on the student’s age

Experts pay attention to the correct ratio of the height of school furniture. The parameters do not have a constant value and depend on the individual characteristics of the child. Focusing on age is not entirely correct, since children at the same age have different builds/heights. That is why, when buying furniture in a store, you should not be guided by recommendations, for example, for 8-10 or 12 years.

Requirements for products by (height):

Child height 1 m 20 cm

Table height 52 cm, chair height 32 cm.

Height from 1 m 22 cm to 1 m 30 cm

The height of the table increases by five cm, the height of the chair by three cm.

Sizes are similarly increased for taller students. As you can see, based on the requirements, the furniture will have to be changed very often! If the child grows by +10 cm to the above parameters, the height of the table should be increased by five cm, and the chair by three cm. Such calculations at first glance seem simple, but in practice they cause many problems. By purchasing a ready-made growing chair, parents will be able to avoid constant calculations and spending money on a new model.

Important! You can read online recommendations for shopping with your child. Let the student himself choose the best model that he will be comfortable with. Our experts categorically disagree with this statement. Children are not able to determine what they need and select a chair according to their own considerations (for example, so that it rotates, rocks, has bright colors, a soft back and seat, etc.)

The right desk for a schoolchild has the following indicators:

Legs bent at right angles, do not hang down.
The entire feet are on the floor.
The distance between the knees and the table top is approximately 15 cm.
The table is at the level of the solar plexus of the person sitting.
When the elbow is on the table, the tip of the middle finger reaches the outer corners of the eye (the head is straight).
When standing near the table, your elbows are two to five cm below the tabletop.

It is clear that the child does not know about all these requirements. Before purchasing, parents themselves are obliged to study all available information and explain to their child the logic of choosing the best chair and table for studying.

How to choose the right growing chair - you can learn from this article

What other parameters need to be taken into account

In order for your studies to be as comfortable as possible, you need to pay attention to other parameters. Not only the height of the furniture determines the quality of the work behind it. It is also important not to ignore the following:

Incline. A tabletop located at a slight angle will reduce eye strain. In this case, writing will also be a little more convenient - hand tension will decrease.
Safety. Pay attention to the presence of sharp corners to avoid the possibility of impacts.
Color and design. You should not buy a table with too bright colors or an unusual shape. This will distract the student from studying.
Material. It is better not to buy furniture made from expensive materials for studying. Children will quickly stain it with ink and paints. It's worth taking a closer look at plastic products. Some types of this material are toxic and emit an unpleasant odor.

Also, when purchasing, pay attention to the presence of various drawers and shelves. Space for books, notebooks and other educational supplies will never be out of place.

Tabletop width and color. Dimensions of tables for schoolchildren

The recommended width of the tabletop is one meter, the depth is 60 cm. If you plan to buy a table with cabinets for storing school supplies, you should take into account that there should be space under the tabletop for comfortable placement (at least 50 by 50 cm).

Furniture color

It is better to choose natural, non-flashy shades - natural wood, as well as light green, light gray, peach, beige. Too bright colors, according to psychologists, negatively affect the ability to remember material and concentrate attention.

Chair for schoolchildren

We remind you: adult chairs, stools and computer chairs are not suitable for children!

When purchasing, you should first of all focus on the ability to adjust the parameters.

At the same time, seat height is not all the criteria for the “correct” model.

Requirements for children's chairs:

A seat depth of 2/3 of the thigh length is the best option. In this case, the child touches the backrest with his back, and his knees are not pressed against the edge of the seat.
The back of the chair is at an angle of 90 degrees. Its height allows you to lean freely, not fall apart while sitting at the table and not lean back.
Strength and stability, eliminating the possibility of swinging. Office swivel chairs are completely prohibited.
The seat is quite rigid and does not sag or spring.
The presence of a footrest located at a certain height (depending on the height/age of the child). Its width is no less than the length of the foot. Legs should not hang or stand on tiptoes.

The most reasonable solution is to purchase a high-quality “growing” model. A “smart” chair for a child lasts for many years and has a set of settings that can be changed at home in a few minutes, without resorting to the services of a professional. This saves parents from searching for a suitable chair for their schoolchild every year or even more often.

We also recommend that you read this article on the topic “Which chair is best for a schoolchild”

Workspace for two students

If possible, it is better to provide two full-time jobs for each student. If you have limited space, the best option would be an extended communal table and two chairs.

What material to choose for a school table

Various materials are used in the manufacture of furniture (MDF, wood, plastic, chipboard). The main condition is the presence of a certificate confirming safety. Request documents from store consultants.

Materials

The computer or desk with shelves you choose for your child in the children's room must be safe, so you need to pay special attention to the material. It must meet the requirements of wear resistance and not create hassle in maintenance:

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Chipboard. It has high strength and a long service life, which is why it is widely used in the manufacture of cabinet furniture. This is an excellent solution that many manufacturers use to produce inexpensive, high-quality furniture. An additional advantage is the wide variety of colors and shapes, making it easy to choose a model for two that fits perfectly into the interior of the nursery.
Chipboard. It is a cheaper analogue of chipboard, so after just a few years of use, the main drawback of the material may appear - toxic compounds will begin to be released. You also need to take into account that this furniture does not retain its attractive appearance for very long. Therefore, if you do not want to harm your child’s health, then it is better to look for furniture made from a different material.
MDF. Furniture made from this material is more affordable than products made from solid wood. Moreover, their quality and appearance are at the same level. Their main advantages are long service life, high strength, ease of maintenance, and safety. This material provides many different shades and can have an imitation of wood or a smooth surface. It is furniture for two made of MDF that is the recommended option for a schoolchild.
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Array. Such furniture is more suitable for older schoolchildren. Otherwise, you will be upset when you find traces of a pen or felt-tip pen on its surface. Few people choose desks made from this material because of its inefficiency and bulkiness. However, it also has serious advantages - a presentable appearance, long service life and environmental friendliness.
Plastic. A school desk made from this material is no longer a rarity, but if you are interested in such an option, then you must be sure of the quality of the plastic and its compliance with safety standards. The disadvantage of plastic desks is their short service life; their surface quickly becomes covered with scratches and other mechanical damage. Therefore, if you decide to purchase such a school table for two in your home, it will only last for a few years. But in the end, you will still have to choose another, more practical table.

Selecting a comfortable chair and additional accessories for the table

A correct and comfortable chair is a necessary condition for the formation of healthy posture. Therefore, in addition to a comfortable desk for school, your child will need a high-quality chair.

Only serious manufacturers who care about their reputation offer certified products that take into account all the requirements:

safety of coatings and materials;
the ability to independently make adjustments (height and depth of the footrest, height of the seat and backrest).

The presence of adjustments to ensure correct seating at the table is a must.

What accessories are required?

A lamp with diffused soft but directional light.
Bookend.
Organizers.

Correct posture

Purchasing practical and comfortable furniture cannot guarantee the prevention of health problems.

A child must follow a number of guidelines while working at the table:

The distance between the body and the table is a fist.
Straight back.
If you are tired, you can bend forward.
The legs touch the floor, the knees are at a right angle.
Elbows are static. Located on the table top.

Important! Children should not sit in one position for a long time. You should do a warm-up every hour.

Review of inexpensive models

In search of the best furniture options, you need to consider a review of comfortable desks for schoolchildren. Among the inexpensive varieties (from 6 to 10 thousand rubles) it is worth highlighting such models as “Delta-10”, “DEMI”, R-304, Grifon Style R800.

These are quite high-quality furniture options for schoolchildren. They are noted as the best in the low-price segment by many buyers. The materials from which the presented tables are made are safe for children.

If you want to use furniture for a long time, you should buy “DEMI”. It can be adjusted to the child's growth. If the baby slouches or sits incorrectly, you can give preference to the R-304 table. It has a special cutout that corrects posture. If there is a computer on the desk, it is better to buy the R800.

How to choose the right chair: basic criteria

A good chair for a schoolchild must meet certain criteria:

The chair should have a back, ideally an orthopedic one. To choose a chair that suits your child, try “trying it on”: in a sitting position, the child’s hips and back should form a right angle.
It is desirable that the seat be depth adjustable. Sometimes children have to do homework for 2-3 hours or longer, and with the ability to adjust the backrest to the “closer or further” position, the child will be less tired.
If you are going to use the chair for a long time, you should choose a model whose height is adjustable. As an option: you can buy a regular chair and a footrest for it. In any case, the student’s feet should be on the floor while doing homework, and not hanging in the air. But, if the student is not a model of perseverance, the stand risks becoming a nuisance that distracts attention: an active child will constantly kick and turn it over.
Children love chairs and armchairs with swivel wheels. But it is better to choose a model that does not rotate around its own axis - possible trips around the children's room are very distracting. You can find a compromise if your child absolutely wants a chair with wheels - consider a model with mechanical or automatic wheel locking. The mechanical locking is regulated by adults; the automatic locking will work itself if a person weighing more than 30 kilograms sits on the chair.

Regarding armrests—whether they are needed for a schoolchild’s chair or not—expert opinions differ. Some pediatricians believe that a properly positioned armrest that does not violate the shoulder line helps the child keep his back straight. But there is another opinion, especially true for primary school students: armrests that are too high raise the student’s shoulders to an unnatural position, disrupting posture.

If you choose a chair with armrests, it is better to purchase a model whose armrests are adjustable to suit the child’s height. The height of the armrests should be such that the student’s hands are on the tabletop.

Types of chairs for a schoolchild’s workplace: advantages, disadvantages, average prices

The table below shows the best and most popular types of chairs for schoolchildren: their pros, cons and average prices.

More details about each type of chairs for schoolchildren:

Classic

The same chairs that are in most Russian schools. The frame of the models is usually metal, less often plastic. Classic chairs are durable, but short-lived: their size cannot be adjusted as the child grows, and the schoolchild will outgrow such a chair in 1-2 years. It makes sense to choose a classic model if there is more than one child in the family - a simple but strong chair will last several years for all children in turn.

Computer (with wheels)

Photo:

Withstands weight up to 60-70 kilograms. For chairs with wheels, everything that is necessary is adjustable: the height and depth of the seat, the angle of the backrest. The wheels of the models are usually fixed; the chair can only roll forward and backward. Models without armrests are produced especially for elementary school students.

Transformable chairs

Photo:

“Grows” with the child: such a chair can last from first grade to graduation. The seats of transformable chairs are attached to a steel frame, so the models are durable not only due to their ability to “grow”, but also due to their strength.

Orthopedic chairs

Photo: orto-stul.com

The best option for preventing and correcting existing problems with the spine. Orthopedic models cost a lot, but they fully justify their price: they support the spine in the correct position, relax the back, and evenly distribute the load throughout the body.

An orthopedic chair can be selected taking into account the characteristics of a particular child: there are models with knee support - for children with the habit of sliding onto the edge of the seat; models with a removable footrest; models in the form of a rocking chair, developing the ability to maintain balance.