Starting Stratified: The Highchair

Abstract

Highchair, as adult-controlled, seated-eating-position for infant-holding, anticipates or presupposes expressions including the solitary consumption of individual food within a sedentary bodily position. These are Highchair’s presuppositions and affects. This chapter aims not to critique the use of highchairs in early childhood education, but to recognise (and perhaps experiment with) the ways in which such presuppositions contribute to other expressions. We cannot always know what forms of content and forms of expression will create in their encounter—being held high to facilitate interaction with the caregiver also allows objects to be dropped, feet to be swung. Enter infant-bodies, food items, drinks, adult in charge: “morning tea time” in a family day care setting.