Good posture habits early in life bring strength, confidence and vigor later on. Young children with bad posture suffer abnormal spine growth and spinal disc degeneration. Later in life, that manifests as chronic issues like back pain, lethargy, arthritis, and osteoporosis. To ensure a strong postural foundation, a specialty ergonomic chair can help. Here are the best ergonomic chairs for kids. These can help young bodies develop strong posture habits that last a lifetime.
Babies usually start sitting at around eight months old. Before they can sit, they must learn how to crawl. That builds strength in their legs, arms, shoulders, and back. That develops the balance and postural strength needed to hold the seated body upright.
By age of three, a child will double in height and quadruple in weight. During those years, there is rapid growth of the spine and nervous system. Age four is the ideal time to lay down a strong postural foundation.
Best ergonomic chairs for kids
A few generations ago, people lived more active and dynamic lives. These days, kids have more options to indulge in screen-based sedentary time. The average American child spends around three hours watching TV every day. They also spend around 2-4 hours using computers or smart devices. That works out to around 5-7 hours of sitting every day.
Luckily, studies show that when taught good sitting habits, children respond by improving their posture. So instead of fighting excessive screen-based sedentary time, take advantage of it. All you need to do is buy the right chair and nurture your child as they use it.
The following chairs are suitable for children age four and up. These models are ideal to establish a neutral sitting posture as a child’s default sitting position.
Sidiz Ringo desk chair for kids
Rated: #1
Current price: Price not available
Sidiz is a South Korean office chair manufacturer. They make the Sidiz T80, one of the most popular ergonomic task chairs on the market. The Sidiz Ringo is their ergonomic chair for kids. It fits bodies between 3’6″ and 5’2″.
Ringo chairs come in plain solid colors. Addon covers are available in Captain America, Iron Man, and Disney Princess pink.
Sidiz Ringo sizing
The dimensions support small kids between 6-13 years old:
- Seat width & depth: 18.3″ (W) x 17-19.5″
- Floor to seat: 15.7″ to 19.7″
The backrest is height and depth adjustable. That allows four different height settings. Given how fast kids grow during pre-adolescence, this is a brilliant extra.
- Step 1: 3’6″ to 4’1″
- 2: 4’1″ to 4’4″
- 3: 4’4″ to 4’9″
- Step 4: 4’9″ to 5’2″
Key features
The Sidiz Ringo comes with an array of adjustment options. These support good posture with superb comfort. They also enable the chair to grow as the child does. Thus, children can enjoy a perfect fit throughout their formative years.
- Functionality:Â depth-adjustable sliding seat; height & depth adjustable backrest; 4 seat & backrest sync levels; optional footrest.
- Comfort: padded seat and backrest.
- Extras: adjustable footrest is included.
- Warranty:Â 30-day money back guarantee; 3-year warranty.
The Ringo also comes with a lockable 360°. Unlock to let the chair spin freely. Lock into place when it’s time for the child to focus.
Sidiz Ringo advice
Sidiz is proven in the ergonomic field, as they also also make a range of excellent task chairs for adults. The Sidiz Ringo is rated to support children aged six and up. It offers similar features as competing chairs but beats all others with a 3-year warranty. Even so, it’s one of the cheaper high-end options on the market.
The Sidiz Ringo has an excellent pedigree, good warranty protection, solid ergonomic features, and a great price. On Amazon, models are available in pink, green or blue. All come with the optional footrest support included.
Ergonomic Computer Chair for Kids
Rated: #2
Current price: $199.99
This generic model offers similar features as other chairs, plus a unique height-adjustable backrest feature. It has a reasonable price and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Sizing
These chairs are a good fit for kids aged 4-12.
- Seat width x depth: 17.3″ (W) x 11.4″ to 14.5″ (D)
- Backrest width: 16.9″
- Floor to seat range: 12.5″ to 20.8″
- Chair height: 18.5″ to 30.7″
Key features
This model offers solid features for the money. It comes with a foot plate, flip-up adjustable armrests, lockable wheels, and a robust backrest height adjustment system.
- Functionality: adjustable armrests, seat depth, backrest height, seat height, and foot support depth; 360° swivel.
- Comfort: padded seat and backrest; breathable fabric cover.
- Warranty: 1-year warranty.
Chair advice
Despite its generic name, the ‘Ergonomic Chair for Kids’ offers good value for money. The clever backrest design makes it easily adaptable for a range of sizes. You can also lock and unlock the wheels. During leisure, unlock to let the child roll around the room. When time to work, lock into place to let the child focus.
This model comes with a 1-year warranty and offers similar features as more expensive options. It ranks #2 because its 1-year warranty falls short of the Sidiz Ringo’s 3-year warranty.
Sitrite Ergonomic PC chair for kids
Rated: #3
Current price: $219.95
Sitrite’s desk chair suits kids from 4-9+ years old. Its clever design is intended to support kids through their early growth years. It has a cushioned seat and back support plus special features to cater to a range of sizes.
Chair dimensions
The SitRite chair comes with a height-adjustable footrest to support 4 and 5-year-olds. When the child is big enough, you can remove the footrest and raise the height of the chair. The seat is also depth-adjustable. As the child grows, increase the depth the support their growth.
- Backrest and seat width: 21.85″
- Floor to seat range: 16.7″ to 19.6″
- Foot support range: 7 inches
- Chair height: 32.8″ x 35.8″
Key features
Sitrite chairs provide a basic padded seat with many adjustments to suit growing bodies. The posture support is basic. The chair holds the body upright, supports the arms, and lets the child plant their feet on the floor or footrest for more spine support.
There are two features that help this chair cater to a range of sizes. First, the cushioned seat can slide forwards or backwards. This is an easy way to add more room for large kids and less for small ones. The Sitrite desk chair also comes with a removable footrest. This provides smaller kids the proper support to benefit from the chair’s ergonomics.
- Functionality: adjustable sliding seat; removable footrest; 360° swivel; seat height adjustment.
- Comfort: padded seat and backrest.
- Warranty:Â one year.
SitRite chair advice
This chair offers solid features and a 1-year warranty for a decent price. SitRite chairs provide comfort and support and to help a child maintain a neutral sitting posture. As the child grows, the chair can adjust to help them maintain pristine posture habits. By the time the child reaches school age, good posture habits should be ingrained.
AmyDreamStore Children’s Desk Chair
Rated: #3
Current price: $357.99
The AmyDreamStore chair is rated for children aged 3-12. These chairs come with clever features to help parents teach their kids about good sitting habits.
Sizing
This chair will fit all children aged 3-12. The floor to seat range is similar to most adult-size chairs. That works because a plate under the seat supports the feet when the chair is high off the ground. As a result, these chairs work fine at adult-sized desks.
- Seat width x depth: 17.7″ (W) x 16.5″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 16.5″ (W) x to 16.9″ (H)
- Floor to footrest range: 7″ to 9.8″
- Floor to seat range: 17.7″ to 21.2″
Key features
This chair comes packed with features focused on posture education. A plate under the seat provides foot support even when the chair raises high off the ground. Armrests can adjust in three directions. Lumbar support is height and depth adjustable. There is even an ‘anti-hunchback’ feature. Two backpack-like straps fit in the middle of the backrest. With the child’s arms in the straps, they are forced to sit upright while in the chair.
- Functionality: 3D armrests; height and depth-adjustable back support; adjustable seat height.
- Comfort: padded seat and backrest; breathable fabric cover.
- Unique features: anti-hunchback straps; circular footrest under the seat.
- Warranty: no warranty information provided.
AmyDreamStore chair advice
These chairs come in a range of color options and offer excellent features. The adjustable footrest and generous floor-to-seat range allow for a range of options. Kids can use these chairs at small desks or adult-sized ones. In both cases, the chairs support a healthy neutral sitting position.
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Our favorite thing about AmyDreamStore chairs is the anti-hunchback straps. Those make it very easy to enforce good posture habits at a very young age. Give the child a task, strap them into the chair, then give them 25 minutes to finish.
Cosply Chair for Kids
Rated: #5
Current price: $100.98
Rated for children 3-18, the Cosply Kids’ chair offers similar features as other models for a much lower price.
Key features
This model comes with a padded seat and backrest. The backrest is adjustable independent of the seat. The seat is height and depth-adjustable. There is also a height-adjustable footrest, and anti-hunchback straps.
- Functionality: height-adjustable backrest; depth and height-adjustable seat; adjustable foot plate; 360° swivel.
- Comfort: padded seat and backrest; breathable fabric cover.
- Warranty: no info provided.
Sizing
This chair will fit all children aged 3-18. You can adjust the seat height, seat depth, and backrest height.
- Seat width x depth: 16.5″ (W) x 13.3″ to 17.3″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 17.3 (W) x 17.7″ to 22″ (H)
- Floor to seat range: 16.5″ to 20.5″
Cosply chair advice
The Cosply chair for kids offers solid features for a great price. It comes with the necessary features to grow as the child does. For posture training, these models also come with a footplate and anti-hunchback straps. The one downside is the lack of warranty information. That means that the reliability and durability of these chairs is a gamble.
Posture development realities for kids
Benefits of good posture for kids
Children who sit with good posture tend to be more engaged, alert, and confident than those who slouch.
The American Posture Institute did a study to show how posture habits manifest in classrooms. Distracted, disengaged students slouch. In contrast, engaged students sit upright, with their eyes focused straight ahead.
Sitting up straight also prevents fatigue. Good sitting posture lets the muscles work more efficiently to keep the body erect. As a result, the muscles burn less energy. That leaves more energy to focus on homework, video games, other productive pursuits.
Physical effects of poor posture
Wolff’s Law states that bones develop based on the loads the body places on them. That explains how poor sitting habits early in life can alter bone development. Later in life, altered bone development leads to issues like arthritis or osteoporosis.
For instance, one study tested the back health of 154 ten-year-old kids. 9% of those tested were already suffering from spinal disc degeneration. None had a history of back pain, and all were asymptomatic.
Physical issues caused by slouching usually manifest later in life. Even so, there are some early indicators of spinal health issues in kids to look for for:
- Chronic fatigue.
- Frequent back pain or headaches.
- Shoulders or shoulder blades are at different heights.
- The head bends forward more than the rest of the body.
- Tight muscles in the back of the thighs.
Mental effects of poor posture
Poor posture has a negative impact on mental health. Studies show that poor posture makes people more fearful, hostile, nervous, passive, and sluggish.
The spine and nervous system are the main pathways sending information to and from body to the brain. When a child slouches, the brain receives negative physical input from the stabilizing muscles. That impacts a child’s functioning. Problems can manifest as slow learning, poor concentration, or sensory processing issues.
Worst gaming chairs for posture
Console gaming chairs describe living room chairs for use when playing video games. These chairs sit low to the ground to offer an optimal view of a television screen. On Amazon, these are popular sellers for a few reasons. First, most models are kid-sized. Second, most cost less than $100.
There are a few problems with floor rockers. For one thing, they aren’t very durable. Most come with a warranty of one year or less. For another thing, gaming rockers are bad for the back. They force the spine to curl into a ‘c’ shape. That flattens the lumbar curve, strains the neck, and misaligns the spine.
If keen to force your child’s spine into the shape of a boiled shrimp, check this review:
Conclusion
Children respond well to ergonomic interventions. When provided the right sitting equipment and taught how to use it, they adapt.
Leaving your child’s posture development to the public education system can be disastrous. Schools buy furniture in bulk, using one-size-fits-all principles. In elementary schools, children in the first grade use the same desks and chairs as fifth graders.
The practical solution is to teach good posture habits at home. First, buy an ergonomic chair designed for children. Second, teach your child how to use it. Third, monitor them.
Science supports the idea of working in 25-minute bursts. After 25 minutes, the brain tires and cognitive functioning slows.
Using that as a guideline, give the child a task like homework or a video game. If the chair has anti-hunchback straps, hook your child into them. 25 minutes later, unstrap your kid and let them run around. In short order, your child will get used to sitting upright. At the same time, they will get accustomed to the idea of working in 25-minute bursts. That will also teach them the importance of taking regular movement breaks between sitting sessions.
A child should outgrow their ergonomic chair in middle or high school. By then, they should have superb posture, strong core muscles, and plenty of vitality.
At that point, consider upgrading from a children’s chair to an adult-sized gaming chair. Those will help your teen to maintain their good posture habits as they enter adulthood.
