×
Reading lights for kids are one of the best ways to encourage reading and help children develop their skills. Reading lights come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. There are also a variety of kids reading light types that can be used to suit your needs. Below we will cover some of the most popular styles on the market today!
Table of Contents
The benefits of a reading light for kids are numerous. First and foremost, most children love having their own special spot to go when they want to read or do homework. Having a dedicated place with proper task lighting will help encourage this behaviour as well as improve your child’s concentration while studying.
Reading lights also have been shown to reduce eye strain, which can lead to headaches and discomfort.
It is especially helpful for kids who tend to read in dark or low-lit areas such as their room at night. It helps them concentrate on the pages of the book while keeping any disturbances out so they aren’t distracted from what they are doing.
A book light can also help children fall asleep faster by reducing the amount of time it takes to get their eyes adjusted and accustomed to darkness.
Lastly, reading lights can help kids work on projects in low light areas such as a bedroom or desk area when they don’t have access to natural lighting. This is especially helpful for children who need additional encouragement and motivation when doing homework!
The convenience of a clip on reading light makes it one of the top choices for kids. Clip on lights are lightweight, portable, and versatile to meet all reading needs!
A wall mounted reading light is a great choice if you have limited desk or nightstand space. You can also install them in shared bedrooms so everyone has access. Wall mounting gives you complete control over your light and lets you easily direct it wherever needed!
A bed side table reading light is a great choice if your kids like to read in bed. These lights can be directly plugged into the wall for easy, safe use without batteries or charging cords. They are usually adjustable so they can point up towards the headboard of the bed for easier reading.
A gooseneck or neck reading light is a great choice if you want extra control over the angle of your lighting . Some come with bendable necks and adjustable lights so you can get the perfect position every time!
Where is the best place to put this choice of kids reading light? Will it be by the bedside or on a study table? Will it mount to the wall? Younger children who are prone to knocking everything over might prefer a wall mounted reading light, whereas older kids might enjoy a gooseneck or flexible neck style.
How much time does your kid spend reading at night? If they tend to read until they fall asleep , a bedside table lamp with an adjustable neck and dimming/”>dimmable light is a great choice. This way they can easily and safely turn the light on and off without getting up.
For the more adult reader we’ve also investigated the best reading light for bed
What position do you want your kids reading lamp to be in? Will it need to stand up on its own or hang from the wall? Or will this depend on what type of surface area it will be placed upon?
Always consider what design of kids reading light will work best for your specific child’s needs. This might be different than what you would choose, so make sure to consider their personality and preferences as well.
Thankfully there are lots of styles of kids reading light today, from the themed design to a style and color to suit any bedroom.
Does it need to plug into the wall or can it run on batteries? What kind of wiring system does the kiddie lamp have if any?
What kinds of tasks will this kids reading light be used for? Make sure to choose the right type of lighting for studying, book work, or art projects, as it may mean you actually need two different types to fully satisfy the type of lighting they will truly benefit from.
If your children tend to spend long periods of time reading on their bed and/or working on their school projects at a table, then choose one for each for the best layering of light.
How important is it to you that the light your child uses has an adjustable color temperature? LED bulbs have been known for having nice natural lighting effects and can be adjusted from soft yellow tones all the way up to bright blue hues.
The color of white light is described in degrees of kelvin eg 3000K is a warm white.
Lamps for studying should use at least 2700K if not 3000K or more as the higher the degree of kelvin then the cooler and brighter the white light will appear to feel. However, too high beyond 3500K and this very cool light will ruin the rest of the room’s mood.
You may be used to your phone or PC having a nigh time mode that warms the screen as the evening progresses? This feature withdraws the blue from the light mix that makes up a bright white that’s needed for the screen during the day, so the body is not stimulated into an alert state that we know the color blue invokes.
So if your child reads at night, consider a lamp with this feature so their sleep is not disrupted and they can get the full benefit of reading before bed. A warm white of 2700K would be great.
Do you want your kids reading light to have the ability of changing colors? Some LED bulbs have that capability worked through an app, using the white light for reading and changing to a variety of colors for some fun and atmosphere. This is great for use in classrooms or playrooms too.
Is USB charging important to you when choosing lights for kids? Some kiddie lamps have USB ports built directly into the base so kids can plug their tablet or phone right in, which can be so helpful when a power socket is not close enough for their device.
Do you want your kid’s reading light to turn off and on automatically? If so, this may be a great feature for them since it will encourage good sleeping habits.
A hand held remote control is also available with kids lamps for studying or reading. It’s not just for convenience but a helpful aid for an adult to set the lighting right as a bedtime night light from outside of the room.
Is this lamp strictly for reading? Or is it also to be used as a night light when kids are in bed or not feeling well? If that’s the case then you might need a night light feature or have a touch control dimmable setting to bring the light down in intensity
If your child has difficulty using buttons, they may benefit from touch controls on their kiddie lamp instead.
Do you prefer lights for kids that are cordless and rechargeable? There are many kiddie lamps out there that come with built in lithium ion battery packs or can be plugged into a wall socket for charging. This option will need to be charged usually with USB cable.
The best light for reading is a more intense task light, even for children who have young efficient eyes that can see very well in dim conditions. However a child’s reading light does not have to be as close to the surface of the page as an adult, so you are free to choose any type of lamp for studying and it will be fine as long as it’s within 3ft (1 metre).
How bright do you want your kids lamp to be? If it is for a child’s bedroom, then consider choosing one with adjustable brightness levels so that they can find the perfect amount of light every time.
So you want your kids lamp to be adjustable you will need a light with dimmable features. This way it can go from super bright all the way down to barely glowing before automatically turning off.
Are there any safety concerns with your choice of kids reading lights? Will they need a guard to protect the light from curious hands and fingers, or will you require that it stays cool enough not only for the child’s sake but also for yours if you decide to leave them on unattended?
Reading lights are safe when used properly. Most children’s book reading lamps come with a plastic shield to reduce the chance of getting burned by touching it accidentally. It is important that you check the cord and plug for any signs of damage or fraying before allowing your child to use their light without supervision!
Most children’s book reading lamps come with a cord and plug. However, some also offer the choice of using either batteries or USB charging to cut down on cords!
Although extremely rare, younger children can be at risk from trailing leads near the bed. Younger kids to move around a lot in the night so any risk of becoming entangled with a cord is remedied with a cordless rechargeable LED reading light.
White light contains a mixture of colors blending to make white in differing hues, resulting in pros and cons for using them when studying – with our recommendation.
Estimate a chandelier size following a simple proportion rule to the size of your room, factoring in chandelier height with positioning tips.
Are you unsure about the various colours of LED lights? We explain the differences & make comparisons to help you determine which one is suited for your needs.
The best headlamp for fishing is lightweight, comfortable, robust with variable outputs. We compared dozens & received expert advice to choose our top picks.
Easily learn to calculate how many lights can go on a 20 amp circuit by a step by step guide to the circuit capacity with your chosen lighting products.