For safety and comfort, the majority of the classroom should be carpeted, with the exception of eating, diapering, or messy play areas. Studies have shown that air quality in many child care centers is substandard below three feet, which is precisely the level at which children are breathing. To remedy this, install adequate natural and mechanical ventilation, such as ceiling fans, operable skylights, and central air systems that use fresh, rather than recirculated, air. Since children love to observe, classrooms should have child-height windows, allowing the children to feel visually connected with the outside. For child care settings, incandescent is preferable to fluorescent lighting.
Bright colors can be over stimulating to young children.
Ivory or eggshell colored walls, and furniture made of natural wood provide a calming atmosphere. Wall storage adjacent to each area allows caregivers to change activity materials without leaving the room under-supervised, while it also frees up valuable, usable play space. This can be done by placing activity areas along walls, leaving the center of the room open, with diapering or food preparation areas separated from the classroom by half-height walls. A setting that is developmentally designed will increase the effectiveness of caregivers as well as enhance the experiences of the children. Louis Torelli, M.S.Ed., is a partner with architect Charles Durrett in Spaces for Children, a child care facility design firm.