Importance of Natural Light
What is Natural Light?
Natural light is any form of light from a natural source such as the sun or the stars. Some benefits of natural light include a boost of vitamin D, a decrease in seasonal depression, improved sleep, and reduced health risks that may arise with artificial lighting (Garone, 2020). Here at SENSE-ational Spaces, we absolutely love transforming spaces with lots of natural lighting like sunrooms into sensory safe havens for families! Read on to learn more about why that is the case.
Benefits of Natural Light
Biological Development
Our biological development is physical, social and emotional changes that occur during development, is directly influenced by natural light?! Here are some examples of how (Engage Treatment Program, 2021):
Sleep Patterns: Exposure to natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, promoting healthy sleep patterns which are crucial for growth and cognitive development.
Vision Health: Adequate natural light is essential for eye development due to the stimulation of necessary growth hormones that promote eye growth.
(Osibona et al., 2021 & Blume et al., 2019).
Safety
Here at SENSE-ational Spaces, Safety is one of our top priorities. There are studies showing that natural light helps us stay safe and by having adequate lighting in play areas in homes we are able to reduce the risks of accidents and injuries (Osibona et al., 2021), which is another reason to love the natural sunlight!
Social and Emotional Development
Social and emotional development is our ability to create relationships and ability to express/recognize feelings (Head Start, 2021), and interestingly enough, our relationships and feelings are affected by natural light!
Social Interaction: Well-lit environments promote positive social interactions, helping children develop communication and interpersonal skills.
Emotional Well-Being: Bright, natural lighting is associated with improved mood, fostering a positive atmosphere for children.
(Osibona et al., 2021 & Blume et al., 2019).
Cognitive Functioning
Did you know that how we think is affected by the light around us?! Our ability to learn and attend to tasks, as well as our mood and behavior are impacted by the lighting source in the room!:
Learning and Attention: Natural light in classrooms has been linked to improved concentration, engagement, and academic performance. For classrooms that do not have adequate natural lighting and only have harsh overhead fluorescent bulbs, our team often recommends adding light covers to help!
Mood and Behavior: Light exposure can affect mood and behavior, as iti is researched that it is able to reduce anxiety and depression in children.
(Osibona et al., 2021 & Blume et al., 2019).
Play and Exploration
The way that we play and explore the world using all of our senses is also affected by the natural light (NHS, n.d.)!
Outdoor Activity:. Getting outside for play is a way to not only explore, but also target all eight sensory systems! Natural light encourages outdoor play, which is vital for physical health, social skills, and exploration of the environment.
Creativity: Exposure to lighting conditions can stimulate creativity, imaginative play, and social interaction through increased time outdoors and utilizing natural items.
(Kinsner, 2019).
Screen Time Considerations
Screens give off harsh light but here is something to think about! Prolonged exposure to screens, especially in dim lighting, can disrupt sleep and lead to eye strain. Limiting screen time and ensuring appropriate lighting can help reduce these effects (Osibona et al., 2021 & Blume et al., 2019).
Knowing that not only is natural lighting an aesthetically pleasing addition to a space, but also directly impacts SO many facets of life, there is no wonder we love working in naturally lit spaces. Check out our other blog posts about lighting if you are interested in learning more about how lighting and visual input can impact your participation in daily activities!
References
Blume, C., Garbazza, C. & Spitschan, M. (2019). Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood. Somnologie. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6751071/pdf/11818_2019_Article_215.pdf
Engage Treatment Program. (2021). What are the 8 biological factors that influence child development? Engage Treatment Program. https://engagetherapy.com/what-are-the-8-biological-factors-that-influence-child-development/
Garone, S. (2020). The health benefits of natural light (and 7 ways to get more of it). healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits
Head Start. (2021). Social and emotional development. Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/school-readiness/effective-practice-guides/social-emotional-development#:~:text=Social%20development%20refers%20to%20a,respond%20appropriately%20to%20others%27%20emotions.
Kisner, K. (2019). Rocking and rolling. Fresh air, fun, and exploration: Why outdoor play is essential for healthy development. naeyc. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2019/outdoor-play-is-essential
NHS. (n.d.). Explorative play. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/life-skills/play-leisure/explorative-play/#:~:text=Exploratory%20play%20involves%20the%20child,sand%2C%20water%20and%20messy%20play.
Osibona, O., Solomon, B. & Fecht, D. (2021). Lighting in the home and health: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828303/pdf/ijerph-18-00609.pdf