How to teach kids map reading and compass

Teaching young kids to read maps isn’t about strict lessons—it’s about making it fun, engaging, and suited to each child’s learning style. My first rule: don’t just teach a lesson, teach the child. A great way to start is by drawing a simple map of a familiar room. This introduces key concepts like spatial awareness and the meaning of colours on a map. From there, we take it outside with the Nine-Tree Forest game—a hands-on way to teach direction, mapping, and navigation through play. The game involves setting up nine objects in a 3x3 grid, labelling directions (North, South, East, West), and guiding kids to follow routes using simple maps. As they progress, we introduce real maps, starting with small, easy-to-read sections of familiar areas. Later, we can add a compass, keeping it fun and practical. Teaching them to set bearings and move toward specific points builds confidence in navigation. There are countless ways to teach map reading, but the key is to make it enjoyable and give kids plenty of time to absorb the skills. If you’ve used other techniques, drop a comment—I’d love to hear your ideas! #MapReading #KidsLearning #Navigation 00:00 Intro 01:38 How children learn – they have plenty of time 03:37 Make it fun – get outside – start with something familiar 06:02 Introduction to the Nine Tree Forest (Nine Tree Wood) 07:56 How to use the Nine Tree Forest 09:51 Extending the Nine Tree Forest 11:41 Introduce real maps 13:22 Progressing on from the Nine Tree Forest 15:06 Getting out and following a map 16:31 How to teach a child to use a compass 20:42 Put it all together