Archived: Early Childhood: Where Learning Begins Geography

Ages 2–3

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Toddlers can't use maps.  But they can become familiar with the idea that maps help

people locate themselves in space.  Just as they know that books have symbols that

represent words, they can understand that maps and globes have symbols that represent

things in the physical world. Symbols have meaning.  Colors, lines, and markings on a

map stand for something.

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Let your children see you reading maps and using globes.  They should become familiar

objects in your home.

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Keep a globe or a map of the United States near the television and use it  to locate places

talked about on television programs, or to follow the travels of your favorite sports team.

Very young children won't be able to fully understand globes, but they will become

familiar objects.

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Point out signs that indicate location.  In a store or other public place there will be

entrance and exit signs, and signs that indicate stairs, escalators, and elevators. Many

signs use symbols.  Point them out and talk about them. In elevators or other places, show

children how people with visual impairments use Braille signs.

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Look at videos or photographs of yourself and your children.  Point out how much

smaller everyone looks than they really are.  A map is like a photograph.  A photograph

represents you, only it is smaller.  A map represents a large area, but it is small.

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Give children all kinds of blocks and boxes with which to play.  You can put paper signs

on blocks to show where the toy store or their house would be. When they pretend that

the blocks represent objects, they are beginning to understand how people use symbols.

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