{"id":1595,"date":"2022-04-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/teaching-younger-children-about-maps\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T10:35:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:35:44","slug":"teaching-younger-children-about-maps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/teaching-younger-children-about-maps\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching younger children about maps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<header id=\"block_0cddf2b6a23323abdc4127639395cb76\" class=\"SingleHero skip-lazy default\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"SingleHero__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/family-activities\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFamily activities\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/map-reading\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMap Reading\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"SingleHero__title\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTeaching younger children about maps\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center align-items-center SingleHero__author\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Jonathan Elder\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"SingleHero__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished on \t\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2022-04-05T00:00:00+00:00\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">April 5, 2022<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t3 min read\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"SingleHero__thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"485\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg\" class=\"attachment-hd size-hd wp-post-image\" alt=\"map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-300x76.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1024x259.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-768x194.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1536x388.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/map_reading_for_younger_children_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1376x348.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<article id=\"block_f6e3e8d3a00ae079811d8d01c67f7657\" class=\"Universal Universal--post c-small default \" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerBlocks\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lead\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-map-reading-for-kids\">Map reading for kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Teaching children to map read from a young age will help them understand the world around them and set them up for future adventures. We look at how you can introduce younger children to map reading and teach them to create their own simple maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding how places relate to each other is a vital skill. <a href=\"http:\/\/ww2.kqed.org\/mindshift\/2015\/12\/16\/steps-to-help-foster-a-preschoolers-spatial-reasoning-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Julie Dillemuth<\/a>, a children\u2019s author and spatial cognition expert says that \u201cwhen you look at maps, you are building a mental map. Mental maps are really important because it gives you freedom to navigate where you want to go\u201d. Having a good spatial awareness helps in many other aspects of education, from maths to creativity. She says that children as young as three can enjoy understanding simple maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/map_reading_for_younger_children_view.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Introduce maps at a young age\">\n        \n        <p>Introduce maps at a young age<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-start-out-small\">Start out small<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Start out with a simple map of the room or floor of your home. There are many <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/maps\/themed-maps\/childrens-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">children&#8217;s maps<\/a> available or you can draw your own. Obviously with younger children written labels are not very helpful, so think about drawing objects from a childrens&#8217; view<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have a basic map, see if they can recognise objects and add items that are missing to slowly increase the complexity of the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, hide an object, such as a favourite toy in the room, and mark it on the map (I like a big pirate style &#8216;X&#8217;). See if they can locate their toy using the map &#8211; you can give hints like &#8216;it&#8217;s near the window&#8217; if they are struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/map_reading_for_younger_children2.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Create a simple map to teach children about map reading\">\n        \n        <p>Create a simple map to teach children about map reading<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your child is confident relating the real world to a map, encourage them to try and draw their own. Fictional maps can be great fun and good practice, but to help them learn how to relate the real world to a map. Encourage them to take pencils and paper and map a real-life place, such as the garden, a local play-park or similar. Show them how you can use different colours to represent different things, such as green for grass and grey for pavements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, start encouraging them to use maps. You can draw your route to the shops, park, nursery or school on a street map and encourage them to follow along as you walk (this works best on foot as the slower pace and ease of stopping are easier than in the car). While they may not be able to read the road names, they can still practice &#8216;left&#8217; and &#8216;right&#8217; or just &#8216;that way&#8217; based on the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/map_reading_for_younger_children.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"map reading skills route younger children\">\n        \n        <p>See if children can direct you on a simple route<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in London, the tube map is a great resource for slightly older children as the simplified style makes it easy to ask questions like &#8216;how many more stops&#8217; and &#8216;what line do we need to be on&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Children who like Lego, Minecraft or similar building toys and games can be encouraged to build their maps with these. You can then often continue to expand, starting out with your home and moving out to the surrounding areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>This article is part of National Map Reading Week which encourages people of all ages to use maps to explore and spend more time outdoors. Find more <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/map-reading-skills-for-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">map reading guides for kids<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"MetaShare\">\n\n\t\t\t<button id=\"likeButton\" data-nonce=\"fbe6c3c1da\" data-postid=\"1595\" class=\"Button Button--default Button--icon likeButton\"><span class=\"likeButtonText\">Like this guide<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.4947 3.09742C8.5448 1.39335 5.66108 1.04464 3.42166 2.95804C0.999337 5.02773 0.647396 8.5134 2.56291 10.9783C3.29002 11.9139 4.70917 13.3196 6.07302 14.6069C7.45283 15.9092 8.82946 17.1399 9.50834 17.7411C9.51258 17.7449 9.51691 17.7487 9.5213 17.7526C9.58512 17.8092 9.66457 17.8796 9.74074 17.937C9.83194 18.0057 9.96286 18.0909 10.1377 18.1431C10.3701 18.2124 10.62 18.2124 10.8524 18.1431C11.0272 18.0909 11.1581 18.0057 11.2493 17.937C11.3255 17.8796 11.405 17.8092 11.4688 17.7526C11.4732 17.7487 11.4775 17.7449 11.4817 17.7411C12.1606 17.1399 13.5373 15.9092 14.9171 14.6069C16.2809 13.3196 17.7001 11.9139 18.4272 10.9783C20.3353 8.52288 20.0377 5.01032 17.5597 2.95074C15.2954 1.06872 12.4424 1.3927 10.4947 3.09742Z\" fill=\"#186571\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center MetaShareSocial\" aria-label=\"Share\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"X\" class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--x\" id=\"share-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-173 238)\"><path d=\"M18.9.75h3.68l-8.04,9.213L24,22.5H16.594l-5.8-7.6L4.156,22.5H.474l8.6-9.854L0,.75H7.594L12.837,7.7ZM17.61,20.291h2.039L6.486,2.843H4.3Z\" transform=\"translate(173 -237.625)\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"  class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--f\" id=\"share-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-89 238)\"><path d=\"M14.186,24V13.2h3.279L18,8.4H14.186V6.062c0-1.236.032-2.462,1.759-2.462h1.749V.168A19.34,19.34,0,0,0,14.671,0C11.5,0,9.508,1.989,9.508,5.64V8.4H6v4.8H9.508V24Z\" transform=\"translate(89 -238)\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"likeCount\" class=\"likeCount\">Liked by <span id=\"likeCountValue\">4<\/span> users<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"MetaShare__hr\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MetaShareAuthor__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Jonathan Elder\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor__desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jonathan helps run the OS Shop and GetOutside, and in his free time can be found walking, playing computer games or, in the winter, falling off mountains with a plank of wood strapped to his feet.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teaching children to map read from a young age will help them understand the world around them and set them up for future adventures. We look at how you can introduce younger children to map reading and teach them to create their own simple maps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1594,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"activities":[10,36],"locations":[],"class_list":["post-1595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","activities-family-activities","activities-map-reading"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Map reading for kids | OS GetOutside<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teaching children to map read from a young age will help them understand the world around them and set them up for future adventures. 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