Study of the Importance of Daylight in Kindergartens and Schools

Živa Kristl and Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik

Summary:  The physical space of the kindergarten and school must provide a pleasant and healthy environment. One of the conditions is the daylighting of the premises, which not only enables the performance of visual tasks, but also affects the psycho-physiological response of the human organism. According to some data, a child or adolescent will spend as much as 30 % of her/his time in a playroom or classroom. Therefore it is important that the professionals and the public are aware of the importance of a quality indoor environment and its impact on children‘s health and learning progress. The article discusses and critically assesses the effects of daylight on children, including common problems with the quality of daylight in schools and kindergartens such as glare and overheating. Also recent findings in the field of non-visual biological effects of light on children are considered. The literature review reveals that in schools and kindergartens, the average level of daylight is often appropriate, but the distribution of daylight and visual and thermal comfort is inadequate. Studies also suggest that other aspects of daylight, such as stimulating outside views and triggering the circadian response, are very important fort he well-being of children. The result of the paper are recommendations that architects must follow when designing the kindegarten or school.