Why is lighting important in child care?

The light our kids are exposed to when they’re young can have a huge impact in the long term. Here’s everything you need to know.

The effect of lighting on the physical and emotional health of children is profound, especially in their critical developmental years.

Children’s eyes are not fully developed until their teenage years, and their pupils are larger than that of an adult. As a result, they absorb more light and are at a higher risk of circadian rhythm disruption. Anyone who’s had to put an energetic child to bed has experienced this first-hand!

Lighting in kindergarten and schools

Children spend most of their day in a classroom or childcare facility. For young children, kindergarten is where they learn to explore the world outside of their home, a place where they seek comfort and security.
Lighting, therefore, plays an important role in these spaces and optimised lighting should be an important consideration for their health and wellbeing.
Studies show that adequate illumination (typical of daylight), not only prevents the risk of developing nearsightedness but also helps prevent other health problems and disorders relating to circadian rhythm disruption.
Good lighting is also beneficial for brain development and may foster the formation of new brain pathways, which can ultimately enhance learning.

This kind of dynamic lighting positively impacts their mood, emotions, and health, while brightly lit classrooms have proven to improve behaviour and reduce stress and anxiety in children of all ages.
Correct lighting, in terms of colour temperature, intensity and dynamism in classrooms, has been shown in studies to increase reading speed by 35 per cent, while reducing comprehension errors by 45 per cent.
The right lighting – indirect illumination, the use of daylight, and friendly, warm white light colours – is important as it helps create a natural light environment where children, particularly those in kindergarten and new to schooling, feel safe and comfortable.

Variable lighting in kindergarten and schools

Clearly, lighting is a vital element in a child’s educational experience, whether they are in day care centres or in schools.
Today, modern lighting technology allows us the opportunity to use both variable lighting systems (where the intensity and colour temperature can be changed), and dynamic lighting (where adequate natural light is complemented by artificial illumination) in school and childcare settings. Both of these options can adapt lighting solutions to benefit the circadian and emotional rhythms of children and improve their outcomes at school.