A Pilot Study: The Impact of Outdoor Play Spaces on Kindergarten Children

Playing and moving are essential to the young children's lives. Allowing the children to experience the natural and man-made elements in their living environment would generate cognitive, physical, and social skills development. This study investigates the physical performances of playing in outdoor play spaces of kindergarten children. The outdoor play spaces of Tadika Islam Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur was evaluated to identify the landscape features on the playground that affords stimulating play environments for children. The study approach includes interviews, observations and behavior mapping guided by the theory of affordances employed. The findings indicate that landscape features influence children physical activity.