A Cozy Corner: Why Kid-Sized Chairs Matter

Picture this. You’re assembling the perfect nursery (or large closet...hey, some of us live in apartments!) for your upcoming bundle of joy. Crib? Check. Changing table? Check. Toddler-sized chair...wait a minute, toddler-sized chair?

OK, now picture this. You’re helping your child set up their first “big kid” room. Adorable desk at just the right height? Check. Twin bed that they might actually stay in all night (fingers triple-crossed)? Check. Child-size sofa...now, hold on here, child-sized sofa?

It’s often the last thing we think of, but your very own first chair is actually a really notable piece of furniture. Think back to when you were a child — can you recall that feeling of finding something just your size, and what delight it brought you? Children love things that look like the grown-up version but are scaled down for them; just ask any child who’s ever begged for something just like Mom’s or just like Dad’s. Whether it’s snack time with Sesame Street or flipping through board books while scrunched into a ball, there’s just something really special about the first piece of furniture that most of us remember as really being ours.

It’s not just the ownership that’s important, though. When choosing a chair, ergonomics should always come into play. That’s a word that’s tossed around a lot when you’re talking about furniture and offices, but what does it actually mean — and does it really matter for kids? According to Humanscale (and others), “defined as the science of fitting a workplace to the user’s needs, ergonomics aims to increase efficiency and productivity and reduce discomfort,” and as it turns out, it matters for all ages. Having correctly sized and structured furniture is important both for comfort and for muscle development. That’s why our toddler chairs (ages 2+), sofas (ages 2+) are contoured with high density foam. And why does that matter? Because of its high weight per cubic foot, high-density foam has a strong cellular structure. Some people assume this means it’s firm, but it’s actually super-cushy while still being bouncy and supportive.

Bouncy? Well of course, as anyone who’s ever brought a big cardboard box into their home knows, kids come up with all kinds of different uses for things. Tables and blankets become caves and tunnels, paper towel tubes transform into nautical telescopes, laundry hampers change into a squirrel’s knothole – there’s no limit except one’s imagination. That includes chairs, of course! As long as they’re sturdy enough, chairs can be used for so much more than the usual eating and reading. Lightweight, durable child-sized chairs like our #LittleReader and #ReaderChairs become mini-forts to climb under, castle walls to hide behind, soft landings for little pirates walking the plank (or is that just in our house?), and so much more. To expand the fun (pun intended), the #LittleReaderSofaLounge folds out from a cozy kid-sized couch to a padded lounger, perfect for a polar bear’s ice floe or a daring escape by raft (and also perfect for movie nights, read-alouds, living room camp-outs, and even sleepovers). And if you’re thinking, “OK, P’kolino, this sounds fun, but what about safety?” have no fear! Because of our unique wide-base, angled design, our chairs don’t tip over like lower-quality foam chairs. We have no hard corners or sharp pieces for bumps and bruises; there’s nothing but a soft landing for your junior daredevils.