How to Make a Family Map

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These days, families are spread out all across the country and sometimes, the world. Having a family map is a fun and easy way for your children to know where everyone is while getting an easy geography lesson at the same time.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Large map of the world or the country
Straight pins or push pins
Small pieces of paper that you can label
Cork board to put the map on
List of relatives and where they live
Tape

Step1

Purchase a map of the world or the country at local educational stores or discount stores. Pick a map that has some detail to it so that you will be able to get closer to the actual cities that your loved ones live in, this will give children a better idea of where people live in relation to them and each other.

Step2

Find a cork board or bulletin board that you can mount the map on. This will keep the map from getting worn out or torn when you are working with it; and it will make it much easier to move the pins around as loved ones move.

Step3

Create labels for each person using straight pins or thumb tacks. You can type a list on the computer using a smaller font and then print them out on paper. Cut out each person's label and tape them to the pin. If you do not want to use a computer, write them out by hand.

Step4

Sit down with your children and have them help you place the pins in the right order. Depending on the age of your children will make a difference in their understanding and involvement. I have found that this activity works really well with 5- to 8-year-olds. With this age you can help them read the name and locate the correct place to put the pin.

Step5

Hang your family map for everyone to see it. It also makes a great tool for locating current events with your children. For example, there was a vacation spot your family was discussing going to, your child could look at the map and see who lives close to that spot. Or your child may have heard about a storm that hit a certain area of the country at school or on the news, you can use this map to reassure them their loved ones are out of harm's way or to let them check on ones who are not.

Step6

Consider that if you do not have wall space in your home to hang the map up permanently, then the cork board is easily slid under a bed or in a closet for safekeeping until it is needed.