Caitlin drew arrows to direct people

Caitlin (5 years, 8 months) drew a detailed map 

of the village where she lives. Her map includes a

roundabout, "the two hills", the Village Hall, the

Spar grocers, and - at the top the airport - and at

the foot of the page, Exmouth beach. She has a

very clear sense of direct and location.

Yoda's house

Max (4 years, 2 months) drew the location of

"Yoda's house" (Yoda is a character from the

film "Star Wars"). He has shown a route

indicating how to get to the house.

Talking about Jamaica

Tiyanni was sitting in the garden at a table

with her friend and an adult, Mandy. Together

they were looking at a map in a large diary;

Mandy talked about the time Tiyanni went to

Jamaica, and pointed to Jamaica on the map.

    Tiyanni explained "That’s where my

Grandma and Grandad is" and Mandy talked

about the beach in Jamaica. Picking up a blue

pen Tiyanni made some marks in the diary,

and pointing to them, added "This is swimming". 

And that's my nursery"

From his father's interest in maps, Isaac (5 years,          

1 month) had developed a fascination with maps,

and at home his father had put some old, framed

maps on the walls. Isaac decided to draw his own

map for the wall, explaining it as showing the route

they drove from home to the nursery. Isaac lives in

a large city and sometimes the route must have

seemed lengthy circuitous! Pointing to a place on

the map he explained, "And that's my nursery."

     Isaac was very interested in location and

direction and understood how to use a compass.

Visiting the forest on another day, Isaac told

an adult, “I think we’re going west […] That

way is south”. Then concerned that they might

be lost, Isaac asked, “Are we north or

south? This is a mystery path! I don’t want to go

south – it will go to Africa and my bedtime’s at

six o’clock”.