Abstract:

Color, as one of the dominant dimensions of visual space, has always been a subject of numerous researches which are dealing with color influence on psychological, physiological and emotional reactions of an observer. Subsequently, numerous researches has been performed on a field of importance and connection of color with children´s emotions as well as with possibility of color usage as incentive factor in educational system.

For the professionals working with children, it is essential to develop the awareness and understanding of how children view and perceive the colors, which can help in the future production of effective educational programs. There must be a greater knowledge of the developmental use of color and the interpretation from a child’s perspective. An awareness of the potential impact and influence of personal color association with emotion is an additional factor to consider within educational settings and is particularly important where direct use of color is being considered.

Every color from visual light spectrum that observer percept, regarding the frequency of associated wavelength has its own specific energy. That energy is the factor which defines the entire psychophysical experience and emotional reactions of an observer, which can be positive or negative. So, certain scientific theories confirm the emotional, psychological and behavioural color attributes are closely connected to their spectral characteristics and objective parameters. It is presumed that by the effect of color spectral characteristics as a form of energy, certain negative behaviours could be prevented or suppressed as well as initiate positive emotions and behaviour, thinking activities, strengthen the ability to concentrate and increase memory capacities.

Nevertheless, the impact of color cannot be limited exclusively to visual aspects since color wavelengths are absorbed also by the skin. Findings showed that changes in the color of the environment resulted in reduction in aggressive behaviour in blind children as well as sighted. Such researches certainly bringing up the question of textile role and importance as one of the dominant carrier of color in human everyday personal and professional surroundings. For example, Gerber, Sun and Chizzari, conducted the researches in which they confirmed the thesis that the color clothing actually acting as a filter with possibility of transferring the color energy into a body. Tracy Diane Cassidy (University of Huddersfield, School of Art, Design and Architecture, Huddersfield, UK), in her researches, also confirms the thesis that the colors that are selected in everyday clothing, have potential influence on physical and emotional health.

In this paper a part of the research will be presented, which were conducted with aim of answering the question is there a specific connection between color spectral characteristics, behaviour and emotional response as well as academic success, for children of primary school age. The study has been performed on a group of 204 pupils, age 7 to 12 (first to fourth grade), in Croatian primary school Zakanje, as contribution to projects conducted under the UNICEF project „For safe and encouraging environment in schools, with aim of increasing the teacher – student interaction as well as increasing the capacities of learning content acquiring.

Keywords:

Color, safe and encouraging environment in schools, emotional response, academic success.