Draw a Map With Your Kids

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

21 Jan 2007 08:58 AM

Here's a fun thing to do with your children, which also encourages some good thinking skills. Draw a map of their world. All you need is some crayons or markers, and some large paper. I like to use poster board, but in a pinch you can always tape small sheets of paper together. I've also used paper grocery sacks for this. If you cut off the bottom, and up one side you end up with a large sheet. The drawback is that grocery sacks are brown, and your pictures won't show up as well.

If you want to pull out detailed maps or computer software and make your maps proportionally accurate, you can. Doing it that way makes a good learning opportunity for geography lessons and mapping. I like to do that with older kids. Programs like Google Earth and MapQuest can provide you with a detailed and printable view of your neighborhood.

For younger children though, I like to see what they consider important enough to make it onto the map. I like to see what shows up huge on their maps. The house with the barking dog? The house with the cat in the window? The awesome wooden play set in a neighbor's yard? A rock on the corner they always climb on? I like to take a walk with the children and to prompt their memory. You can even bring your map and drawing supplies along if you want. I will warn you that bringing supplies along makes for a very long walk.

If you have room on your map, you might want to add the grocery store, your church, your school, a park, or any other places you visit often.

When you are done, consider hanging the map in your child's room. This map is a nice view of their world at this point in their life.

A Few of My Favorite Things - Geography

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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Jeff Bogle (1022) 21 Jan 2007 09:08 AM

Awesome idea Lauri. We are going to do this today!

Lauri Griffin (2703) 21 Jan 2007 09:57 AM

Oh cool! Let me know how she likes it!