DON'T work around the bench height. It needs to be cut down to a standard height in order to be usable and comfortable.

Unfortunately, that would be a massive undertaking. The bench is a butcher block wood bench that sits on top of cabinets for storage under the bench. The bench runs around 100 inches between two ceiling to floor cabinet set ups. In order to lower the height, you'd have to remove the bench top, rip out the cabinets that act as the base and replace with smaller cabinets.

The cabinets are 15 inch high wall cabinets used as a base. The base they sit on is 4.5 inches high with a 1.5 inch butcher block bench for 21 inches total. I could replace the 15 inch cabinets with just 12 inch high cabinets, which would put the bench height then at 18 inches but as I said, that's a major undertaking to remove the bench, find matching cabinets, etc. But if that's the best option, that's the best option.

I understand it would be a big undertaking to dismantle the bench, but could you pull it out and put the bench cabinets on a much smaller base, like only an inch or so high? Then you could keep the existing cabinets and avoid a mismatch in seating heights.

You might be able to find chairs with a seat height of 21 or 22 inches. Could the people making your table also make chairs? This could end up being an interesting statement piece for your kitchen.

Remember that counter height tables use 24" seats, so you are veering close to that. Put on a thick cushion, and add a bar rail for the feet, and use a counter height table if you don't want to redo it.

...or just make kids sit on the bench. Nobody really wants to sit there if chairs are available, right?

I'm sure suggestions would be more useful if you posted some photos.