The role of education is a key factor for an individual’s development. After the 1980s the findings of educational research has shown that preschool age is a very important period in one’s development. The single parent family structure and an increase in the number of working mothers have required children to attend schools in “child development centers” (CDC). Preschool education is becoming important in the new millennium because a child’s personality, emotions, cognitive and social abilities develop during the first five years. The purpose of this study is to investigate the reasons for selecting CDCs by parents and children by focusing on physical and environmental factors. The sample was a diverse group of 95 parents and instructors who use CDCs at two different locations in Turkey. The instrument used in the study was a self-designed standardized questionnaire. The results should enlighten later CDC design studies, and give support for architects who design preschool education centers. The study may be used for educational, governmental and advertising purposes to contribute to changing the negative situation of poorly designed centers.

Keywords: child development centers; preschool education; physical environment; environmental quality; child development center selection