Make Activities Fun With The Best Toddler Table and Chairs (2020 Guide)

Make Activities Fun With The Best Toddler Table and Chairs (2020 Guide)

My son and I used to do some serious activities in our home—from coloring, to playdough, train play, to sticker stories, his toddler table and chairs got a lot of use.

A good toddler table and chair set will add a lot of value to your activity area. But you can’t choose just any set—you want something that’s in it for the long haul!

Not sure what kind to get?

Check out this guide for how to choose the best table and chair set for your toddler!  

Do You Need a Toddler Table and Chair Set?

Yes, yes, and yes! You definitely need a toddler table and chair set.

Why?

Your little one needs a place to call their own when they are in that weird, inbetween stage of being a baby and big kid.

They can no longer fit in their high chair, and you just don’t trust them fully yet to sit alone at your kitchen island or your dining room table, because the chairs are pretty high up.

Plus, kid activities are messy no matter how you structure or prepare for them.

So, in an effort to protect your beloved furniture, just invest in a set that is just their size and that is ok if it gets marked up a time or two (and it will!) 

Benefits of a Table & Chair Set

A toddler table and chair set boast the following benefits. They include:

  • Low to the ground. You don’t have to worry about your child falling far to the ground because they were sitting on a super high chair. 
  • Independence. If you want your child to do a puzzle, read a book, or color a picture, they can access their table set on their own accord, without being helped or supervised while seated.
  • Multi-functional. My son ate snacks at his table, did crafts, read books, played with his cars, and utilized playdough—the table is awesome because it’s multi-functional.
  • Indoor/outdoor. When I knew we were hosting an outdoor BBQ, I was able to bring the table and chairs outdoors for my son to sit at, as well as other children who were attending the event. It’s also great for holidays when family comes over because my son doesn’t take up a spot at the master table.
  • Their own space. Toddlers love having spaces and places of their very own. My son loved that the set was just his size because no one else could really fit or sit at it!
  • Gets them used to structure. Before you know it, your little one will be heading off to pre-school or boarding the bus for Kindergarten. Getting them to practice sitting at a little table is helping to set them up for success with sitting in a special seat at school. 

Features to Look for When Shopping

Before pulling the trigger on the purchase, look for the following features:

  • Easy to clean. You want something that is easy to clean. After all, it’s going to get pretty marked up between meals, snacks, sneezes, spills, arts, and crafts. Plastic is always best, and it responds well to special sponges that are able to erase away pretty much any kind of mark.
  • Easy to assemble. Choose something that requires minimal assembly. Often times, sets are sold with chairs already in one piece, and the only thing you have to do is set up the legs on the table. 
  • Lightweight. If you want to move the set from indoors to outdoors, or are simply redecorating, you don’t want something that is going to feel like a boulder to move.
  • Sturdy and Safe. Some new moms tend to shy away from wraps because they aren’t comfortable with the art of securely tying one. And, that’s ok. There’s lots of safe and secure carriers that have straps and buckles, and structured material that keeps your baby in place for you, and is a no-brainer when it comes to using the device.

Safety Tips

Since many parents utilize a toddler table and chairs for snack and meal times, it’s important to keep an eye on them and an ear out. There are also additional safety concerns to consider. They include:

  • Placement. Take a good look around where your toddler’s table and chairs are placed. Is it near a stove? A countertop full of items they could pull on top of themselves or push over? Is it near electrical outlets? What about a lamp that could be knocked over? An empty corner is a great place to put a table because you don’t have to worry about your child getting their hands on something they shouldn’t! You should also be able to see and hear them if you are in another room!
  • Soft surfaces. Always make sure your table and chairs are placed on top of a carpet. This way, if your child falls off, they will have something soft to break their fall. If you have hardwood, you can find a small and fluffy rug that can get slid underneath with ease. You may want to consider an indoor/outdoor rug since quite a few spills can occur!
  • Stay away from heaters. You want your child’s area to be comfortable and calming—not hot, stuffy, and potentially dangerous. So, steer clear from radiators and heating vents. 
  • Keep electronics off. Kids will often focus on the television, computer, or hand held devices while eating instead of what’s important—chewing and paying attention to what they’re doing! 
  • Never leave unattended while eating. If your child is coloring or playing at their table, it’s fine to be a few steps away in another room, doing what you need to do. After all, you can’t smother them all the time with your attention. But, if your child is eating at their table and it’s not located in the kitchen (or the room you’re in), then you need to make sure you are supervising in case they choke. 
  • Establish ground rules. If your child is at the age where they are able to sit at a small table and work on various tasks and play with their toys, they are certainly old enough to understand established ground rules. Teach your kids not to stand on their chairs or table. Model how to color properly (on paper—not on the table itself) and clean up any messes they make (keep paper towels or napkins nearby, where they are easy to access). 
  • Cover electrical outlets. Kids are creatures of curiosity. It would take very little time and effort to stick a fork, crayon, pencil (you name it) in an electrical socket. In addition to making sure your child isn’t seated next to one, make sure that you have sockets covered if they are in their direct line of sight. 
  • Keep materials accessible. Toddlers will love the freedom and flexibility that comes with sitting and working at their very own space. In an effort to keep things safe and to grant them extended independence, keep art supplies and other toys nearby, in low to the ground, accessible bins. This way they won’t have to stand on their chair to reach anything or ask you to constantly bring them things. 

Best Toddler Table & Chair Sets

#1. Melissa & Doug

From Duke University alumna Melissa Bernstein and her husband Doug, two noted founders of the hand-crafted toy company bearing their name, comes a simple, solid wood, three-piece kids table and chairs set (click here to check the price on Amazon).

You'll get two simple chairs that match the square table, all in a naturally stained and waterproof table. This table is designed at a comfortable height of 20" and the chairs have a seat heigh of 11".

The set is extremely easy to assemble and is sturdy, being secured with screws so that it will not fall apart if you pick it up.


#2. Tot Tutors Plastic

From Tot Tutors comes a bold and colorful plastic table and four chairs (click here to check the price on Amazon) that will delight the eyes of your children, and is super easy to clean for you.

The square table spans 20" and is 17" tall, and includes four chairs.

The entire set is made from plastic, and each chair comes in a different color: green, purple, byte and orange.

Assembly for this table and chairs set is easy. However, note that the chairs snap together, and with wear and tear, they can come apart.

That's not a huge deal because they are lightweight, but it is something to pay attention to if you're children have a rough-and-tumble tendency with toys and your other furniture.


#3. Tot Tutors Wood

If you need a little extra room, then the 26" x 22" rectangular table from Tot Tutors (click here to check the price on Amazon) might be a good match.

It provides ample room for multiple people to do activities simultaneously and comes with four chairs. The table is 19", making it a good match for taller children.

The table is sturdy but made from engineered wood. The set from the Primary Collection includes a natural table with four chairs in primary colors: yellow, blue, red and green.


#4. IKEA

The Swedish furniture maker IKEA has designed a children's table and chairs set (click here to check the price on Amazon) that might be the most simple of those reviewed here, but it's still economical, sturdy and efficient.

That's because the set is made from fiberboard (which is not as strong as real wood), foil and acrylic paint.

The IKEA set is easy to assemble and sturdy because all of the joints are secured with screws, so moving this set around isn't a problem.


#5. KidKraft

With the KidKraft Round Table set (click here to check the price on Amazon), you'll get a simple and aesthetically-designed table with a pair of chairs that is perfect for one or two children.

That makes this table perfect for having a snack or meal and working on a small project.

You don't have a ton of room to stretch out on this table, so you'll need to think about the number of people who will be sitting at the table at any one moment.

The KidKraft table is 23.5" wide and stands 17.3" high. It is made of composite wood, which is on par with engineered wood, and is easy to put together.

Like many of the sets in this guide, the KidKraft table set is secured with screws, so it is sturdy.


#6. Step2

From Step2 comes a cute table and two chair set (click here to check the price on Amazon) for truly the littlest ones walking in your family.

This table can accommodate a child as young as two, and is made from plastic so it's easy to clean and lightweight for moving.

You'll get a table spanning 27.125" wide and rising 19.5" high and two adorable chairs that are 21" high.

Some easy assembly is required, but once put together this table and chair sit is as light as a cloud!


#7. KidKraft Nantucket

This square, white table made from MDF and rubber wood from KidKraft (click here to check the price on Amazon) comes with four cute pastel chairs in pink, sky blue, light yellow and light green.

The table is 23.75" wide and the four chairs rise 11" from the floor to the chair seat.

This set can accommodate children from 3 all the way up to 8 years old.

It's a strong set and requires some light assembly, and perhaps best of all, it has a sweet, simple aesthetic that will go well in light, airy kitchens especially.

Wrapping Up

My son’s toddler table and chairs are still used today, and he’s well into his third year of life.

He started using it as young as one, and he’s still continuing to grow into it nicely.

My point being is that you should invest in a piece of furniture that boasts all the features above because a great set really does have a lot of benefits.

A space totally of their own, your child will work and eat at their table every day, and it will become a beloved piece of furniture, full of nostalgia for your home.

admin_maternityglow
 

Hi there, I'm Kate! I started Maternity Glow to be a place for new and expecting moms to come to for practical pregnancy advice, parenting tips, and baby care tricks.

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