The Effectiveness of Kindergarten Buildings in Jordan: Shaping the Future toward Child-Friendly Architecture

Abstract

From a sociology perspective, schools and kindergartens are society's primary institutions. Hence, safety in schools and especially kindergartens is essential for society. Moreover, due to the increasing number of working mothers in Jordan, the demand for safe and reliable kindergarten design has become extremely important. Child safety from injury, especially within the age group 4 to 6 years, is a crucial issue in architectural design. Moreover, there is a lack of interest in this age group compared to nurseries or primary schools. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic field study to reveal to what extent Kindergartens in Amman city, as a case study, have achieved the fundamental criteria of a safe and child-friendly environment. The case study analytical approach was applied to a random sample of Amman kindergartens to generate an in-depth evaluation of the inner and outer built environment and its features based on the UNICEF evaluation checklist for the child-friendly environment. In addition, a triangulation method (interviews, questionnaires, and field visits) was used to ensure the credibility and reliability of the collected data. Results revealed that kindergartens achieved only 40% of the benchmark criteria for a safe, child-friendly environment. This percentage rings the bell for a real problem that must be considered and brought to the attention of the responsible authorities to find the necessary solutions to create a safe, healthy, child-friendly environment. The research proposed a framework consisting of proposals and practical solutions to the various kindergarten design problems. More large-scale studies are required to evaluate kindergartens in other cities in Jordan to develop national sustainable standards that consider the child's psychological, physical, and intellectual aspects, with the participation of government sectors, universities, experts, and students of architecture colleges.