The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in educational institutions such as day-care centers, kindergartens, and primary schools plays a crucial role in the health, comfort, and performance of young children. Given that children spend a significant portion of their day in these environments, ensuring optimal IEQ is essential. Children are particularly sensitive to environmental factors due to their developing physiological systems and higher rates of ventilation relative to body size. Poor IEQ can lead to a range of adverse health outcomes, including respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and impaired cognitive development.

This Research Topic aims to explore the various dimensions of IEQ in early education settings, encompassing air quality, thermal comfort, acoustic quality, and visual quality. The goal is to enhance our understanding of how these factors independently and collectively affect the well-being and development of children. Contributions to this special issue will provide valuable insights for educators, facility managers, policymakers, and researchers, ultimately guiding interventions and policies to create healthier learning environments for young children.

We invite submissions on a broad range of topics related to IEQ in day-care centers, kindergartens, and primary schools, including but not limited to:

• Indoor Air Quality: Investigations into the levels and sources of indoor air pollutants (e.g., particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, CO₂, bioaerosols) and their effects on children's health and cognitive performance.

• Thermal Comfort: Studies on how variations in temperature and humidity impact children's comfort, health, and learning outcomes.

• Visual quality: Research on the influence of natural and artificial lighting on children's visual comfort, circadian rhythms, and cognitive functions.

• Acoustics: Examination of noise levels in educational settings and their effects on children's concentration, learning, and overall well-being.

• Integrated IEQ Assessments: Comprehensive studies that evaluate multiple IEQ factors simultaneously to understand their combined effects on children's health and development.

• Interventions and Solutions: Development and assessment of strategies and technologies to improve IEQ in early educational settings, including ventilation improvements, air purification systems, and noise reduction techniques.

• Policy and Guidelines: Discussions on current policies and guidelines related to IEQ in educational buildings and recommendations for future improvements.

• Case Studies: Real-world examples of IEQ assessments and interventions in day-care centers, kindergartens, and primary schools, highlighting best practices and lessons learned.

By fostering a multidisciplinary dialogue on these critical issues, this Research Topic aims to contribute to the creation of healthier and more conducive learning environments for young children. We welcome original research articles, reviews, brief reports, perspectives, policy briefs, and commentaries that address any aspect of IEQ in early education settings.

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Frontiers in Pediatrics

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