Introduce young children to directional words by using them in daily conversation. Words like above, below, left and right teach preschool children the concept of location, which will help them to understand and take an interest in maps when they are older.
Familiarize children between the ages of 7 and 11 with the colors traditionally used on maps. Draw a simple plan of the classroom on the blackboard and worksheet, including physical objects like cupboards, desks and chairs. Parents can improvise by drawing a plan of a child’s bedroom or play area. Ask the children to color the plan with the colors used in physical maps. Floor levels, for example, are colored green and the highest objects in the room are coded brown.
Draw a simple outline of a classroom on a sheet of paper, give the children a piece of cardboard and ask them to cut out rectangular shapes; these will represent the desks in the classroom. Ask the children to place the rectangles on the sheet of paper to correspond with their physical location in the room. The children can color in around the rectangles, to create a classroom map. This exercise is suitable for children aged 5 to 7.
Unlock the door to conceptual thought with a symbolic key. Maps are read using keys and you can help your child to understand this concept by using keys representing everyday objects in the area she is mapping. If your child is drawing a map of her garden, for example, you could introduce a small flower symbol to represent a flower bed.
Present your child with a map of a familiar area, such as your neighborhood or a local mall. This will stimulate his interest and pave the way for reading more complex maps. Explain any concepts or symbols he isn’t sure of, and give him tracing paper and ask him to trace over the map.