1. Personal space is necessary to a child's development. The kitchen table is borrowed space that sets limitations, but a child's very own table and chair set puts them in control of their play and craft environment.
2. There are endless selections of kids' table and chair sets: novelty table and chairs, sets boasting primary colors or an array of pastels, and sets with uniquely designed stools and benches. Look for ensembles with storage bins and creative extras to organize and inspire your child's environment.
3. Drawing, coloring, painting, gluing and cutting improve kids' fine motor skills, but paints, glue, markers, and scissors can cause permanent damage to fine furniture and wood floors. Move your child's base of activity to a table and chair set designed for his/her messes; add a colorful play rug treated with a stain guard to protect the floor.
4. When selecting a table and chair set for your kids, look ahead to future needs; cute and whimsical can quickly be outgrown. Make children part of the decision, but steer them away from here-today-gone-tomorrow fads.
5. You would not choose a chair that is uncomfortable or the wrong fit for yourself, so why would you have your child slipping and sliding in a chair that is all wrong in size and design? A good fitting chair is one that fits the child's back and allows feet to rest flat on the floor, providing good support and leg circulation.
6. Before making your selection, decide how much you want to spend on a table and chair set, determine what it will be used for (homework, crafts, games, meals), whether you want it to match or contrast the existing decor, whether you prefer wood or plastic, and how many chairs you will need, based on the amount of children using the table and chairs.
7. What type of surface should a kid's table have? Look for smoothly sanded edges to avoid splinters, lead-free paint, and varnished or otherwise protected tabletops that will stand up to spills; stay away from tabletops with carved or grooved borders that collect debris and are difficult to clean.
8. Decide on location before you decide on a table and chair set for your kid's room. Just as with your own kitchen table, you want to properly fill the allotted space; allow adequate clearance around the table so that kids can pull chairs in and out without banging into walls and other furniture.
9. Select chairs that are stable and do not wobble - poorly constructed chairs will only become worse with use. Chairs with unsteady bases and inadequately assembled joints are at risk of tipping over and causing injuries.
10. Wood table and chair sets blend beautifully with existing decors, and painted wood can be used as a stimulating accent. When it's time for a facelift, wood table and chair sets are easily refinished or repainted to look like new or take on an entirely different look.
