Are toddler chairs A Thing because they’re cute in that smaller-version-of-something-else way things are cute? Like miniature horses or pigmy hippopotamuses? Long ago, someone made a toddler-sized chair. Then someone else saw it and said to their companion, “look at that little human sitting in that tiny chair! Adorable!” Now toddler chairs appear to be mandatory in all toddler play spaces.

It doesn’t make sense. I mean, toddlers are not known for their preference for being still. When they choose to be, the floor works well for them, being so close to it already and all. Toddlers are wired to move. That movement wires their 8 sensory systems and helps them learn about the world. Why all the chairs? I write about why we should beware the preschool chair here and think we should be warier regarding toddler chairs. Let’s look at some play spaces.

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Looks like a mobile infant and young toddler space. The worm things are interesting, but this post’s focused on chairs.

I’ll run the photo through the Playvolution HQ Forensic Lab computer to get to the pertinent part…enhance…enhance…

There we go—a wall lined with toddler seating. The cow and pig couch on the left restricts access to half the play kitchen thingy. Get rid of all that gear, and there would be another 10 square feet of space for movement. Not only do toddler rooms tend to have too much seating, but many of the seats also come with restraining devices. It makes sense. Since toddlers tend not to like sitting, they need to be restrained. It’s hard to build a vestibular system when you’re latched into a chair.

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Off-topic, but nice use of color here. It’s colorful but not overwhelming. The walls are not cluttered either. Some spaces have a lot, probably too much, going on.

Back to our topic: that’s a lot of sitting space. The slide is nice. The chair under it restricts access to one of the playhouse windows. If they removed the stools and tables, there would be room to navigate around the slide and playhouse.

Toddlers need open space to move more than they need chairs.

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Another generally nice play space with too many chairs. More open space than in the last picture, but I still count 12 toddler chairs.

How long will toddlers be interested in sitting and playing with fabric blocks? Removing the chairs and tables would greatly increase opportunities for rolling, spinning, running, hopping, and other developmentally appropriate toddler activity. Add some stuff to climb on, and you could create a fantastic playscape. Instead…sitting.

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Strap in everyone…

…it’s time to sit at the table and get scolded for wiggling.

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Again, I count at least a dozen toddler chairs. There don’t seem to be seatbelts, so that’s good.

And a dozen tables too? And nothing to climb on or jump off. No place to roll or spin.

Toddler Chairs Wrap Up

Maybe the abundance of toddler chairs is not just because they’re cute. Other possibilities:

• They’re in the early learning catalogs
• The program down the street has them
• Kids in first grade sit down to learn, so kindergarteners had to start sitting to learn, then preschoolers were given chairs, and then the trend was pushed into toddler rooms
• Too many adults do not understand how important it is for toddlers to be up and moving in order to wire their brains and bodies

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Have thoughts on the photos–or thoughts on our thoughts? Share them in the comments. You’ll find more play space critiques here.

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