Exploring Maps in the Early Years

Add to My Folder

By Hilary White

Using maps requires a number of foundational skills and cognitive capabilities, all of which can be supported and nurtured during the early years.

The young child’s orientation within their surroundings is central to their learning and development. There are many different ways of helping children with the developmental process of orienting, including the use of maps.

EYFS Area of learning > Understanding the world > People, Culture and Communities

The value of maps as a tool for exploration and discovery is reflected in the 2021 EYFS Statutory Framework, with specific references to maps in the Understanding the World: People, Culture and Communities Early learning goal.

Using maps requires a number of foundational skills and cognitive capabilities, all of which can be supported and nurtured during the early years. The following activities contribute to learning about the purpose of maps, how to use them, and how make them. In doing so, the activities also support the child’s growing exploration and orientation within the immediate, wider and global environments.

Activities in this article:
1. Naming the environment
2. Trails and treasure hunts
3. Going for walks
4. Small world play
5. Making maps
6. Map resources
7. Map-making station