Unlock the World With a Map

Maps have the ability to open up the world to children. They can get lost for hours, turning the pages of an atlas and imagining the land, culture, and history of each new place. Some kids seem to have a natural affinity for using a map to unlock their imagination. Others can be guided to understand the beauty and wonder that is inherent in a map.

As soon as kids are old enough to understand symbols and spatial representations, it is time to start introducing maps into their consciousness. Puzzles are good for this. The shapes, colors, and tactile nature of jigsaw pieces will appeal to a kid even before they can understand that each piece represents a state, country, or continent.

As kids get older, getting them a globe, atlas, or wall map can begin to instill an interest in geography. Frequent references to the map that includes offering tidbits of information about specific features and places is all that is needed to spark the imagination. Pointing out on a london map the location of Shakespeare’s theater, telling stories about the Tower of London or locating the source of the 1666 Great Fire are all great ways to get kids interested in what maps represent.