1. How does a map help us with following or giving directions? Talk about how to give directions to get from place to place. As you drive or walk together, ask them to anticipate where you need to go next.
2. Have you ever gotten lost? What happened? What did you learn from that experience?
3. How can maps help us find our way, especially when we get lost? Where have you used a map?

Preschoolers spend a lot of time exploring and learning about their world, and as they do, they encounter lots of opportunities to develop their spatial skills. At this developmental stage, your child is beginning to build spatial vocabulary with words like: "above," "below," "next to," "inside," “near,” “far,” "outside" and "through." Knowing how far away things are from others is important for spatial awareness.You can work on measurement skills by playing the Jump Jump Measure! Game — jump as far as you can and then measure the distance using informal measurement tools. And playing with dolls, stuffed animals or action figures not only teaches important pretend play skills but also enhances your child’s spatial sense as they arrange furniture in rooms and place dolls in different positions.

At this age, your child can start to locate points on a map using coordinates. (Playing the game of Battleship is a fun way to practice this!) See what happens when human impact divides animal habitats by playing the Habitat Mapping Game with your child. Or, create a neighborhood map to introduce your child to mapping and spatial skills while helping them gain a better understanding of their community. Go on a walk together to gain intel for your map. Point out different houses, roads, signs and nature — and ask questions such as: Which way should we go to get to our house? Which is closer to our house — the school or the grocery store? Are there any important landmarks in our neighborhood that help us know where we are?