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THE HIDDEN POWER OF DAYLIGHT

Daylight can give you much more than just a feelgood factor. Getting enough daylight has proven physical and psychological benefits for children.

A 2012 French study involving over 2000 children across Europe found that the amount of daylight in a classroom improved pupils’ test results in maths and logic by up to 15%. A combination of south-facing windows and effective shading led to happier and more productive kids.

These findings provide clear evidence that exposing kids to enough daylight is both necessary and helpful. For parents, this knowledge can be a great motivator for rearranging their living space and finding new ways and places to spend time with their kids.

SYMPTOMS

In this era of digital entertainment, it can be difficult for young people to make space for simpler pleasures like the wonderful feeling of sunlight. But the fact is that lack of adequate direct or indirect daylight can cause vitamin D deficiency, disrupt children’s body clocks and affect their general mood and their ability to concentrate.

SOLUTIONS

There are some easy and practical steps you can take to help make sure your kids get the daylight they need.

1.

Open (your) house

Make sure as much daylight as possible gets into your home. Ideally, your curtains and blinds should be fully opened in the daytime hours. If your child has a workspace or table of some kind, move it closer to a window.

2.

Find the right direction

Our bodies can only synchronise with the so-called “sleep, work, live” 24-hour rhythm through the correct exposure to light and darkness, and children are no exception. If possible, orientate any children’s bedrooms you have eastwards towards the morning sun. This is particularly beneficial for adolescents and young adults, who have a delayed biological clock and often find it hard to get up in the mornings. Also, make sure your curtains or blinds stop as much light as possible from entering their room at night.

3.

Get out and about

Encourage your children to go outside and play whenever they have a chance. As well as the physical benefits of exercise, most scientists agree that between 30 minutes and two hours of daylight per day can be a great boost to mental wellbeing.

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EYES ON THE
BIGGER PICTURE

As well as new daily routines, it is also important to seize chances to make fundamental changes to your home’s indoor climate. We spend 90% of our time indoors and 2/3 of that time spent in our homes, so it is an ideal place to start improving your life indoors.

 

Improve your existing space

Think about how you can ‘bring the outside in’ by having more daylight in your home. As most of us live in urban environments, to some extent we have alienated ourselves from nature. Look for windows or doors that increase the amount of daylight in your room – bear in mind that light from a window in the roof brings in more daylight than a normal window.

Grow your space the right way

Adding extra square metres to your home is a great way to improve your indoor life. Consider an attic renovation or extension and prioritize solutions that bring in fresh air and daylight.

Moving home

When you’re looking for a new home, bear in mind that older properties might have issues that will impact your indoor climate. For example, make sure you check that the windows bring in enough daylight – if not, consider looking into adding more windows or doors. Also, when you get to the redecorating stage, choose a lighter paint colour. These will create mirrored surfaces that will reflect light better in your home.

KIDS’ BEDROOMS ARE OFTEN THE MOST POLLUTED IN THE HOUSE

Toxic particles, CO2 from exhalation – children’s rooms often contain the highest concentration of harmful substances in the home.

FIND OUT WHY

WHAT CAN I DO?

There are many ways to get better air and daylight into your home. Some are quick and easy, others take more time but will give you solid long-term improvements.

FIND OUT