In acknowledgment of Chengdu’s recent initiative to establish child-friendly schools within the framework of the national the 14th Five-Year Plan for the development of child-friendly cities, this study scrutinizes the current condition of outdoor activity spaces in kindergartens and explores children’s preferred outdoor environmental attributes. The objective is to enhance these outdoor environments to foster a holistic developmental setting for children. Guided by Aff ordance Theory, this research focuses on three kindergartens in Chengdu. Behavioral observation and behavior mapping were employed to assess the aff ordances of their outdoor environments for supporting children’s play, while participatory mapping, combined with semi-structured interviews, was used to explore children’s envisioned features of ideal outdoor activity spaces. The fi ndings reveal that the aff ordance structure across all three kindergartens follows the hierarchy of “used aff ordances > perceived aff ordances > shaped aff ordances”, with “shaped aff ordances” showing the most room for improvement. In spatial organization, the kindergarten with composite play spaces demonstrated the highest degree of integration among the three types of aff ordances. Among outdoor elements, “attached fi xtures” “loose parts” “open ground” provided the highest quantity of aff ordances. Children’s ideal outdoor environments prioritized natural elements, followed by play facilities. This study provides evidence-based insights and practical strategies to enhance the quality and redesign of kindergarten outdoor spaces.