Artificial Light in the Classroom

"Don't cross the stream to find water." - Swedish proverb

Artificial LIght in the Classroom

Anita Olds inspired many early childhood professionals in person with her passionate presentations on design issues.  Her inspiration lives on in her comprehensive guidebook, Child Care Design Guide.  In this book she offers these guidelines for using artificial light in a classroom...

*  Electric lighting, whether general ambient or task-specific, should be warm, natural and homelike.  Avoid suspended ceilings with 2x2 or 2x4 flourescent grids wherever possible because they are insitutional and create unwanted glare.

*  Wall-mounted lights are preferable to ceiling mounted fixtures for washing light up over the ceiling and down the wall, thereby "surrounding" the room with light, freeing the ceiling for other uses and from unsightly grids.

*  Create "pools" of light by placing lights low and apart to encompass the furniture comprising and defining each area.  Pools of light can exist only if there are slightly darker spaces in between them.

*  For their health-giving properties, use full-spectrum incandescent or fluorescent and high-color-rendering triphosphor bulbs whenever possible, especially in children's rooms and places where people gather.

For a complete discussion on lighting issues as well as all other factors in center design, consult Old's Child Care Design Guide.   You can buy the Guide at a 40% discount with free shipping from Community Playthings at (800) 777-4244 or at www.CommunityPlaythings.com.  

** NOTICE: Due to a scheduling snafu, yesterday's ExchangeEveryDay on Favorite Children's books went out prematurely. The Insta-Poll on children's books will be up on Monday. For those of you brave souls who did send us your favorites anyway, we will include them on the list that goes up Monday.