Teaching Kids Local Geography

Exploring Neighborhoods and Making Maps

Aug 21, 2009 Christopher Pascale

Arts and crafts is a great method to teach children about where they live.

A child needs to know his or her neighborhood for many reasons. If kids do not know how to get home from just a few blocks away, they could wander in the wrong direction, and possibly into the wrong part of town.

For parents who do not feel safe allowing their grade-school-aged children to ride bikes and explore the way they used to, a great alternative is to explore with them.

In doing so, a fun project that can be done together is building a map of the local area. Whether parents wish to cover a radius of a few blocks, or the entire town, there are some key concepts that make this activity more fun and effective.

When Scouting the Area, Walk, Don't Drive

This might seem like an elementary point, and one that not all families can commit to due to health concerns for either the parent or the child, but for those who can, it is crucial to walk because the child may need bearings on the lay of the land most while on foot.

As this is going on, do not simply enjoy the cool breeze or bright Sun. Make note aloud of street signs, or have the children read them. In addition to this, familiarize them with landmarks such as a water tower, school, park, or even a tree or piece of sidewalk with a heart carved into it. Every unique trait makes the area more memorable.

In addition to all of this, parents and children will spend great quality time together, having fun for free save for the expenditure of some calories that one's body would be happy to get rid of.

Get Creative With Map Making

Stores such as Michael's have great items for scrap booking and other activities. A material that will work even better than paper is felt. Michael's has stiff and soft felt of many colors.

For families on a budget, this can all be purchased for less than $10 by simply buying various colors without extras such as flat model homes, schools, and other fun trinkets to make the map more lively.

Some simple steps are:

Use a large black piece of felt as a base
Lay green or Gray cut-out pieces to distinguish the streets depending on whether the neighborhood is urban or suburban
Mark the family home with a star or other special feature so that it stands out

After these initial steps have been completed, the imagination and budget of those involved are the only limits.

Make the Exploration Fun With Prizes and Treats

Sometimes kids (and parents) need an incentive to help them. For this, it might be a good idea to set the route of the expedition to cross the path of a candy, ice cream, or Italian ice shoppe.

An inexpensive, fun treat may be the perfect way to help children want to learn about their neighborhood. After all, not only will these walks bring more candy into their lives, but they will also know how to get to them later.

It is very important for parents and children to spend time together. Watching movies, playing board games, and having family dinners together are great, but helping children become familiar with their neighborhood could save their lives.

The copyright of the article Teaching Kids Local Geography in Kids Activities is owned by Christopher Pascale. Permission to republish Teaching Kids Local Geography in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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