Physical Environment and Child Behavior in Vienna Kindergartens

Abstract

The relationship between play-unit complexity and behavior of 24 normal 3- to 6-year-olds was examined in three Viennese kindergartens. Results showed that play-unit complexity had a significant relation to play -group size, degree of involvement, amount of pleasurable affect, and length of activity segments exhibited in a child's play. Although all three kindergartens were crowded, results suggested that architectural design (i.e., the number of rooms in the kindergarten) affected the incidence of interrupted play.