KÄRLEKSLJUSET - When children meet light

Abstract: Small children are fascinated by light and like to play with it. As lighting designers weshould be aware of this natural enthusiasm and take advantage of it. Introducing thechildren to light carefully and providing them with lighting design that meets them, wehave the chance to advance the children´s interest so that it can develop to a highsensitivity to light until adulthood.In my thesis I present the light project that took place in many Swedish kindergartensin the past few years and that was started to introduce the children to light. I approachedthe topic by researching about the pedagogy the project is based on andanalizing the activities that it contains. By a vivid dialog with the kindergartenteachers, my own observation of the children and the study of documentation materialfrom the kindergarten I got to know about the children´s relation and approach tolight. Using this knowledge I was able to define some important factors to followdesigning light for children. One of those factors is the aim to offer an open, flexibleand variable lighting solution creating an environment that encourages the children tocontrol and to adjust the lighting. Another factor is the ambition to make lighting designthat encourages the children to find the perfect lighting situation on their own.Furthermore should the kindergarten be a place, where it is allowed to play with lightand where light plays a major part in the children's daily routines.