Activity Table and Chair Heights

When you say "Sit," we ask, "How high?"

Your activity table is fertile ground for blooming imaginations, so don't poison it with uncomfortable chairs. Squirmy kids get distracted easily. Use this easy guide to pick the right activity chair height for your child, then sit back and watch his creativity blossom.

Any age-based guide needs a little wiggle room, because children grow at different rates, and can change a lot in just one year. Compare your child with other kids his age. If he's bigger or smaller, you can fudge a little. If possible, get more than one size, so you can accommodate different children. Kids naturally pick the most comfortable chair.

A 6-inch chair is the starting place for toddlers 1 to 2 years old. These chairs offer a proportional fit for little behinds, and maximum stability so chairs don't tip even when toddlers do. A 6-inch activity chair fits best with tables 13 to 17 inches high.

As a child passes into the 2 to 3 year range, an 8-inch seat will fit best. These activity chairs offer a good combination of stability and mobility. Depending on the chair style, you'll likely want to match with an activity table in the 17 to 21 inch range.

Children 3 to 5 years old will fit best in a 10-inch activity chair. These chairs move easier, helping little ones who are testing out their independence. 10-inch chairs fit an activity table 17 to 21 inches high.

Chair height is measured from floor to seat. A child's legs should bend at 90-degree angles, feet flat on the floor. Legs get sore if feet dangle, and a chair too small pushes knees up and stresses the back. A good rule of thumb: get an activity table about 8 inches higher than the activity chair's seat height.