The Effect of Physical Components of Kindergarten Environments on Increasing Children’s Creativity

Fostering creative thinking in children is vital for societal progress, with early learning environments like kindergartens playing a pivotal role in shaping this capacity. This study explores how children perceive physical components of kindergarten settings as supportive of their creativity, focusing on their needs and preferred design strategies. Fifty children age 5–6 from four diverse kindergartens in Tehran, Iran, were invited to draw their ideal kindergarten. These drawings were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by a team of child psychologists and architects, using thematic analysis to assess four key components: flexibility, natural elements, environmental diversity, and comfort/security. Results, validated through SPSS regression analysis, revealed a strong preference for natural elements, with 85% of drawings featuring open, green spaces and sensory-rich features like sunlight and vegetation, alongside flexible (78%) and varied (72%) designs. Rather than claiming causal effects, this study highlights children’s imaginative priorities, emphasizing nature-integrated, adaptable environments over closed spaces. Proposed design strategies prioritize open-air education and play areas – such as tree houses, green walls, and water features – to stimulate creativity, offering a child-centric perspective that informs kindergarten design and sets the stage for future experimental validation.