Children's desk chair as a gift: how to choose

A children's desk chair makes sense as a gift when you can adjust it to the child's size and keep adjusting the same settings as the child grows: seat height, seat depth and lumbar support. Before buying, measure the desk and the child, choose a chair with at least three adjustments and, if possible, let the child try it at home for a few days.

This guide is for parents, grandparents and godparents looking for a gift for a schoolchild for the holidays, a birthday or the start of the school year. General selection criteria are covered in the guide how to choose a children's ergonomic chair, and a comparison of our models is in the article children's desk chairs for studying at home. Here we focus on what to check when you choose a chair as a gift, and how to avoid buying one the child outgrows within a year.

Why is a desk chair a good gift for a schoolchild?

Because the child uses it every day, for several years. Doing homework, reading and working on a computer, a schoolchild often spends several hours a day at the desk. A chair adjusted to the child's build helps them sit with both feet on the floor, the back against the backrest and the elbows at desk height.

A gift like this has another advantage: you adapt it to the child's growth with its adjustments, so it does not need replacing every year. When choosing, look not only at colour and shape but above all at the range of adjustments.

Which adjustments should a children's chair have?

A children's desk chair should have at least an adjustable seat height, an adjustable seat depth and a lumbar support that moves up or down. These three adjustments decide whether the chair keeps up with the child's growth.

Adjustment	What it does	How to check it
Seat height	Aligns knees and feet with the desk height	The child sits with feet on the floor, knees at roughly a right angle
Seat depth	Matches the seat length to the length of the thighs	Two to three fingers of space remain between the seat edge and the back of the knee
Lumbar support	Supports the lower back at the right height	The support touches the back above the waist, not at the shoulder blades
Backrest tilt	Allows a different posture for reading and writing	The backrest tilts and can be locked in the chosen position
Armrests	Support the forearms when they are at desk height	They must not hit the desk edge; if they cannot be aligned, choose a chair without them

For a younger child the lowest seat height also matters. If the child cannot reach the floor even at the lowest setting, they need a footrest.

How do you measure the child and the desk before buying a chair?

First measure the height of the desk from the floor to the top of the desktop. Then have the child sit on an ordinary chair and measure the height from the floor to the back of the knee with the feet flat on the floor. This is roughly the seat height the child needs today.

Seat height: roughly equal to the height from the floor to the back of the knee.
Desk height: with relaxed shoulders, the elbows should be level with the desktop or slightly above it.
Seat depth: on a chair with a sliding seat, set it so the child sits back against the backrest and the seat edge does not press behind the knees.
Space under the desk: check for drawers or a crossbar that could hit the armrests.

Write the measurements down and compare them with the chair's adjustment range. If the ranges are not on the product page, ask the seller before you buy. The guide how to adjust an office chair explains the settings step by step.

Betty: a children's chair with adjustments for all school years

Betty is a children's ergonomic chair that you set to the child's size and keep adjusting with the same settings as the child grows. It has:

adjustable seat height with a gas lift,
a sliding seat plate that moves the seat forward or back by about 5 cm,
height-adjustable lumbar support,
a synchro mechanism with a backrest that tilts in three positions and adjustable tilt tension,
a backrest in breathable NET mesh and a seat upholstered in Urban fabric in eight colours,
a white PVC base or a chrome star base, with or without armrests.

The chair has a load capacity of 110 kg, so the child can keep using it as a teenager and later. We upholster and customise the chair to order in our workshop in Medvode; you choose the seat colour and version when ordering. Other models for schoolchildren are among our children's ergonomic chairs.

How can you try a children's chair at home before giving it?

In Slovenia you can try Betty at home free of charge for 7 days: we deliver the chair to your address, the child uses it at their own desk, and if it does not suit, we collect it at no cost. You can submit a request on the free trial page.

For a gift, the trial is useful because you check the chair at the desk the child will actually use. During these days, check whether the child reaches the floor at the lowest or a middle seat height, whether the lumbar support fits and whether the armrests clear the desk. If you want the chair to be a surprise, you can also test it yourself: check the settings at the desk against the measurements you noted.

How do you choose the colour and version together with the child?

With a gift, colour is often what decides it for the child, and the adjustments for the parents. Betty comes in eight Urban seat colours, with a white mesh backrest. A white base matches light furniture, a chrome star matches metal details in the room.

Armrests: choose them if they can be aligned with the desk height. With a low desk or a desk with a drawer, the version without armrests is often more practical.
Castors: on hard floors such as parquet or laminate, check that the castors are suitable for hard surfaces.
Colour: let the child choose it. A chair they like is a chair they will use.

What to watch for when buying a chair as a gift

The most common mistake is a chair that looks like an office chair but has no seat depth adjustment. The child then sits on the front edge and does not lean back. Another common mistake is an adult chair without a low enough seat, which leaves the child's feet dangling.

Check the seat height range and compare it with the child's measurements.
Check whether the seat depth is adjustable.
Check whether the lumbar support moves up and down.
Ask about the delivery time if you need the chair by a certain date. For Betty the indicative time is 14 days; we confirm the exact date when you order.

If you are setting up a study corner at the same time, take a look at our desks. For parents who work from home, our range of office chairs for adults offers the same basic adjustments.

Frequently asked questions

From what age does an ergonomic children's chair make sense?

From the time the child starts sitting at a desk regularly, usually in the first years of primary school. For a younger child, check the lowest seat height; if they cannot reach the floor, use a footrest.

Does Betty grow with the child?

Yes. You adjust the seat height, the seat depth with the sliding plate by about 5 cm and the height of the lumbar support as the child grows. The chair has a load capacity of 110 kg, so it can also be used by a teenager.

Can we try the chair at home before buying?

Yes, in Slovenia. Betty is part of the free 7-day trial: we deliver the chair to your address, and if it does not suit, we collect it at no cost. You can submit a request on the free trial page.

How long does delivery of a children's chair take?

We customise the chair to order in Medvode, so the indicative delivery time for Betty is 14 days. We confirm the exact date when the order is confirmed; if you need the chair as a gift by a certain day, mention it when ordering.

What if the chair does not suit the child?

During the trial we collect it at no cost. For online purchases, the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal also applies.

Looking for a gift for a schoolchild? Take a look at the Betty children's chair, choose the seat colour and try it at home free of charge for 7 days.