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Educational theorists have known for decades that color can stimulate learning in classrooms, but most of the childrens education furniture produced today does not recognize the importance of using hues as part of their functional appeal. Too often we think of color as being only about aesthetics, as being important only because it makes them look prettier. However, research has shown that color in the classroom can be a critical element to a childs academic success.

The U. S. Navy a few years back did a study to test some of the benefits of adding color to their recruits environments. During the three years after the color additions were made, the rate of accidents fell by 28%. A similar study done in businesses by an independent researching team found similar results: the use of white and all-white in offices increased inaccuracy by up to 25%.

While neither of these studies took place in classrooms, the connection is clear. Our students, like the business workers and Navy recruits, are going to be less likely to make errors and to have accidents in a colorful learning environment. Fewer errors usually leads to more self-confident learners who take on greater academic challenges and push themselves to keep learning more and more. Both of these are key traits in students who end up doing well throughout their school careers.

Studies of classroom and color have also been conducted. One of the most famous was a study in 1983 by Harry Wohlfarth. In the study, schools which had made recent improvements to their lighting and had added more color to their environments and those which had not. The schools that had made the changes showed significantly higher levels of academic improvements over those that did not. Thats definitely a good reason to add more color to the childrens educational furniture used in the classrooms.

Further research has shown that color, especially when combined with other organizational elements, can help children as young as 3, to navigate new environments. At a young age, children learn that color helps to signify importance. Even kids who cant read, for example, understand early on that a red stop sign is important enough to pay attention to even if they dont know what the sign says. In a classroom environment, color can help children figure out what parts of the room are important. Using color, therefore, can cause children to gravitate towards the reading area and may be able to motivate students to read more.

Obviously adding color to childrens educational furniture would be desirable for achieving these aims. Even making the cubbie storage units colorful can remind students to place their belongings there before class begins while a colorful art storage piece might motivate students to put their supplies up when they are finished using them.

Of course, not all colors are created equal. You want to use different colors for different age children. For example, cool colors such as blues, greens, and purples are most appropriate for older children. For preschool and elementary classrooms, bright primary colors, such as red and yellow, are more desirable. Incorporating these appropriate colors into childrens educational furniture can have excellent results on students.

Patricia Giadone is the owner of http://www.childrensorganizers.com an online provider of discount classroom and home furniture for parents, daycares, preschools, and churches. Her writing focuses on early childhood and the benefits of organization in the classroom and at home.

posted by gektal  # 7:59 AM