| Summary/Abstract |
This article undertakes a physical assessment of the outdoor environment of Israeli-administered kindergartens in East Jerusalem. It investigates their suitability to accommodate the proper development and growth of the Palestinian children who use them. Due to Israeli-imposed policies and laws and the lack of proper urban planning, scope for Palestinian growth and expansion in East Jerusalem is limited. This has resulted in a shortage of spaces, poor living conditions, and a lack of adequate facilities, including kindergartens. This assessment of 47 kindergartens’ outdoor environments, along with interviews with 9 teachers, shows that the spaces allocated for children in kindergarten playgrounds are small and do not meet the standards required to allow free play. Although the kindergartens studied are administered and licensed by Israeli laws and standards, the results show that the conditions in them do not provide safety, privacy, diverse types of play equipment, and the natural surroundings important for an outdoor play environment conducive to children’s development and learning.
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