July 7, 2025, 10:55 am | Read time: 4 minutes
As children grow older, they spend more time at their desks. Finding a suitable model isn’t always easy. A good desk not only enhances learning efficiency but also contributes to better health.
One of the most important pieces of furniture in a child’s room is the desk, especially once school starts. Ideally, the child will use it from the first day of school until graduation. With the right model, this is generally not a problem. However, parents should pay attention to some important criteria when buying a desk for a schoolchild.
Overview
Finding the Right Model
The top priority when buying a desk for a schoolchild is their health. Specifically, the right desk model must promote good posture. A height-adjustable, growing desk is particularly suitable for this, as its various adjustment options ensure good ergonomic seating for the child at any age. Even if parents have to spend a bit more, it’s an investment that pays off over the years as the learning workload steadily increases.
What Must a Growing Desk Ensure?
Typically, a growing desk allows for the adjustment of the leg height, the tabletop, or both in some models. For healthy posture, it’s important that the legs form a 90-degree angle to the floor when sitting. Ideally, there should also be a right angle between the elbows and the tabletop.
Desk models with adjustable tabletops often allow for tilt adjustments as well. This feature is particularly important from an orthopedic perspective during long hours of studying or crafting. For example, when drawing on large A2 sheets, the child should not have to stand or stretch to reach the top edge.
With a tilted tabletop of about 16 degrees, everything can be reached from an upright sitting position. Ideally, parents should conduct a practical test with the schoolchild in the store before purchasing a desk. With each new school semester, it’s advisable to measure the child and adjust the desk settings accordingly.
Pay Attention to Quality and Certifications
Since a growing desk is relatively more expensive, it’s important to ensure that the furniture meets some key criteria. To use the chosen desk model for as long as possible, robust construction is necessary. Models made of solid wood, metal, and plastic are recommended, as they all promise a long lifespan.
However, you are on the safe side if you pay attention to certifications. These provide information about possible pollutant content (CE certification), whether European standards have been met, and check the furniture regarding technology, workmanship, and ISO standards (GS certification). Regardless of the construction, it’s also crucial that all corners and edges are rounded and thus safe for the child.
Related: Tips for Setting Up a Child’s Room for School
Desk with Storage
To provide a child with the best possible learning conditions, it’s important that a desk also offers enough storage space. However, growing models usually have little to no storage options. As is well known, schoolchildren have plenty of books, documents, and writing utensils, but sometimes they are not yet able to maintain the necessary order and overview of this abundance of items.
To help a child quickly and easily organize all these things, small furniture like a rolling container is recommended. Wall shelves within the child’s reach are also ideal. Small sorting aids such as pen holders, a tray for urgent homework, or a pinboard for the wall are also advisable.
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Using Light Correctly
A good desk for a schoolchild is not complete without additional equipment such as proper lighting. Models like daylight lamps, which also have low energy consumption, are especially recommended. Their natural light does not strain the child’s eyes too much, as learning is already demanding enough. This helps to better avoid concentration weaknesses, fatigue, or even headaches.
Pay attention to the correct position of the lamp so that unpleasant shadows do not further disturb the child while learning. For right-handed children, the light should come from the left, and for left-handed children, from the right. Additionally, a desk should never be parallel to the window but always at a 90-degree angle to it. This way, the child is not blinded by direct sunlight or distracted by the outside world.