While some kids have gone back to school, remote learning has continued in many cities across America. Parents who haven’t yet purchased desks may have started giving the matter some serious thought.
There are many benefits of having a desk, aside from the obvious function it serves. Having a desk means that your child will have their own personal space, and it can also provide motivation to study. Remote learning isn’t on anyone’s top 10 list of fun things to do, but having a desk can make the experience a lot easier. It’s also easier to concentrate when all your study materials are located in one designated place.
Whether you’d like to buy a desk for your child so they can have a place for remote learning, homework, or creative projects, we’ve created a list of the top 10 desks out there. Since children of different ages need different things, we’ve divided the list by age groups.
It’s true, toddlers and preschoolers may not have the same remote learning requirements or the amount of school work that older children have. That’s why desks for this age group tend to be on the simpler side and look more like mini tables. These desks or minis, however, can provide your little one with a space for homework and creative projects. A plus is that these desks are usually sold with chairs, so you can get everything you need with 1 purchase.
This simple table from Ikea is perfect for small spaces and small children. It’s mainly made from solid pine and the tabletop and seat are made from fiberboard and foil. One reason parents love this desk is that it’s easy to clean, so your little ones can do both homework and artwork, and you don’t need to worry about the mess. It comes with 2 chairs and costs $29.99 altogether. For the price and functionality, the Latt table can’t be beat.
Known for their high-quality children’s toys, it’s no surprise that Melissa & Doug’s children’s desk is top-notch as well. This desk is made from solid wood and covered with a white finishing that’s easy to wipe clean. The top of the desk lifts up to reveal a compartment where kids can store their important books and papers. It’s ideal for children ages 3-8 and comes with a chair that can hold up to 150 pounds..
ECR4Kids’ desk set is not your average little kids’ desk, and its price of nearly $180 reflects that. This desk and chair set can fit easily into your child’s room or can be situated in the living room without looking like a piece of children’s furniture. It comes with 2 chairs, making it ideal for families with 2 young kids who are close in age. The set is adaptable and comes with versatile pieces that can be used as tables, chairs, desks, and benches. Your kids can decide which setup works best, or change it up depending on their mood. The set arrives fully assembled and is made from GOLD Certified hardwood. Another strong point is that it comes with rounded edges for safety.
Some toddler desks can grow with your child as they continue on to elementary school. Others can’t. Now that many elementary school children are learning from home, it may be time for an upgrade. There are tons of choices of desks for elementary school-aged children, but the ones on this list have been chosen based on design, aesthetics, comfort, and affordability.
Don’t be surprised to see Ikea desks appear a few times on this list. Ikea furniture is popular because it’s affordable, simple, and practical. The Pahl desk is a stark white desk whose main attraction is that its height is adjustable so it can grow with your child. It can be configured to 3 different heights by using the knobs on the legs. The Pahl can be bought alone for $49.99 but you can seriously upgrade it for $20 with 2 different shelving add-ons from the site.
This compact corner desk costs $179.99 and is great for families who don’t have a ton of space to spare. It’s designed for children between the ages of 5 and 10 and comes with an attached seat for a neater look. It has the nice touch of a built-in cable grommet so cords can stay organized—another way it scores points in the neatness category. It’s made from renewable materials including solid wood and Douglass fir. There are 2 main drawbacks of this desk, which are a lack of storage space and no back to the chair. The storage issue can be easily solved by adding a shelf or box beneath the desk. The chair issue is more significant, and it may be a deal-breaker for kids who need back support. Kids who can manage without it will enjoy the coziness that this desk affords.
This beautiful children’s desk is made from eco-friendly 100% natural bamboo. Both the desk and chair are height adjustable so they can last your child from age 3 to age 10. Not only is this Unicoo desk set lovely to look at, but it has a practical desktop hutch with storage shelves. There’s enough room to store books, pencils, a tablet, and still have space for your child to spread out their school books. At a cost of $109.99, this is one of the more competitively-priced desks.
Though not a traditional desk, the ECR4Kids portable lap desk is perfect for elementary school age children who need to do school work but don’t want to be confined to the same place every day. This portable desk has a versatile workspace for writing or using laptops, and it can be set up on the floor, on a desk, bed, even outside. It weighs only 3.5 pounds and is held upright by the weight of your child’s body. What’s really nice about this is that it can be folded up, so it can be inconspicuously put away when your child is finished.
Junior high and high school are the years when your child needs to hunker down and do some serious work. As such, the desk you choose needs to reflect that. How much you’re willing to spend will undoubtedly influence your choice, but our top picks below should have you covered no matter your budget.
The Convenience Concepts desk is made from metal and is available in 8 colors, including classic gray, pink, and blue. It doesn’t come with a chair but it does have 5 built-in shelves so there is plenty of storage space. You can set it up without tools, and at 41 pounds, you can bet it’s sturdy and built to last. The price starts at $89 and goes up slightly depending on the color you choose.
Don’t expect this desk to talk to you just because it’s called “smart.” Smart, in this case, refers to the branding and design, the latter of which is modern and sleek. This Pottery Barn Kids desk comes with a USB and power strip, a floating corner shelf, drawer, and safety stops to keep the drawer in place. It’s made from poplar, engineered wood, and MDF (medium density fiberboard) and finished in a child-safe, water-based paint. It’s certainly pricey at $499, but it’s one of Pottery Barn Kids’ more affordable options. (The Teen Blaire Smart Storage Desk costs $1,199, to give you an idea.) A payments option is available, which is one of the perks of buying from the website.
Surprise, it’s another Ikea desk to round out the top 10. The Ikea Micke desk proves you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a fully functional desk for your teen. It’s built with a hole at the back for easy cord management and features a storage unit that can be placed on the right or left of the desk. The design is simple and straightforward, and your teen never needs to know that you only paid $79 for it.
Learning and studying home isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but when your kid has a great desk, it can become much more enjoyable. When choosing a desk for your child, make sure to choose one that will be comfortable for them and have everything they need. Storage, cord storage, and desk and chair height are all factors to consider before purchasing. As for the parents, you just need to make sure to find a desk that’s within your budget. Since there are so many to choose from, that may just be the easiest part.
