Youth furniture, whether an old family chest of drawers or a brand-new dresser, ought to be easy for a child to open and close.
But as obvious as that might seem, many children`s furnishings fail the accessibility test because the hardware is too difficult for a youngster to manipulate.
When selecting youth furniture outfitted with drawers or doors, ask the following:
– Can the hardware be grasped easily by tiny hands?
– Are the double handles on drawers close enough to each other for a child to grasp with both hands?
– Will drawers weighted with belongings open and close readily if someone small is performing the task?
– Do heavy lids close slowly so as not to hurt a child`s unsuspecting fingers?
If the answer to any of these questions is ”no,” re-evaluate the item you`re considering. In some cases, that may simply mean changing the hardware. When you begin shopping for furniture, keep in mind that a young child`s small fingers usually lack sufficient strength and dexterity to maneuver knobs.
As the renowned educator Maria Montessori detected years ago, one of the hardest tasks for a child to learn is using together the thumb, index and middle fingers-the ”pincers”-to grasp small objects. One very complicated hand movement for a child to master is buttoning. Activities such as zippering and tying are much simpler.
With this in mind, good hardware choices in children`s furniture include: – Drawer pulls positioned so that little fingers can wrap around them securely. Color-code them to help a child differentiate among drawers`
contents.
– Drawer glides that enable a drawer to slide in and out effortlessly.
– Latches that release or fasten a drawer or cabinet door with slight hand pressure.
Easy-to-use hardware isn`t the only way to make furniture accessible to a child. Other options include furniture designed with either hand grooves or finger holes.
If a child has manual limitations, perhaps a lever is a good idea. Such hardware can be maneuvered by a fist, a forearm or an elbow. With just a little pressure on the lever, a disabled child can open doors to self dependency.
The best way to determine which hardware is the easiest to use is to test it beforehand. Most home improvement stores have comprehensive hardware displays meant for ”hands-on” examination by customers. Meant to showcase a wide range of handles and knobs, these displays help you identify which designs are best-suited for someone with small hands. Naturally that someone should accompany you to the store.
Armed with this information, you and your child are now ready to visit a furniture store.
Because weight may alter the way in which a drawer opens and closes, ask a salesperson to fill a drawer with phone books.
Good hardware is designed for safety as well as convenience. But don`t assume that all ready-made goods fall into that category.
Be on the lookout for the following hardware features:
– Storage with locks: If the container is large enough for a child to climb into, dismantle or remove the lock so there`s no risk of him locking himself in.
– Rolltop desks: Make sure the slatted covers have been engineered with hardware that prevents them from falling down on their own. A well-designed cover will require human force to manipulate or will stop at a given point so there`s no way for fingers to be trapped between it and the desktop.
– Toy chest lid hinges: Designed to protect against slamming, these hinges can be mounted on either end of a toy chest or in the center of it. If a lid is too heavy for single hinge, install two or more. Check periodically to be sure hinges are operating correctly.
On old furniture particularly, the hardware may be lovely to look at but dangerous in the hands of a child. Elaborate handles and other fancy details on heirloom furnishings may have pointed edges that not only inflict pain but also catch clothes. Adding new hardware may be all it takes to make an antique functional for a child.
When a child`s room is equipped with accessible storage, he or she is less likely to be frustrated by getting belongings or putting them away. What could have been an arduous chore instead has been simplified. The result may be a happier child-and a tidier one!
