The World at your Children’s Fingertips
One of the best things I’ve ever gotten for my children is a National Geographic wall-sized map (the instructions that came with it were to actually use wallpaper glue! but we didn’t want to commit to that since we’re selling the house in a couple of years). Ever since we got it my children have been learning about new places daily. Sometimes it’s the map that inspires them, which is directly in their field of vision as we’re having meals.
We’ve had some mini-contests, like who can find Kazakhstan first — which then leads to great discussions, like why there are several similar sounding country’s names in that area, which leads to political history, etc. Sometimes it’s the books they read. It doesn’t matter if it’s literature or history or science, anytime a place is mentioned, it became automatic for them to look it up at the map to orient themselves. Movies have become tools as well, for increasing their knowledge on geography. Now, anytime we watch a movie where the setting isn’t the ol’ US of A, a trip downstairs to the dining room is in order right after the viewing. They’ve started to plan and dream of places to go, soon or when they’re grown up. Even guests can’t resist the pull of this map. Inevitably, two people or more will walk up to the map and talk about how they never knew Russia was that big, or how France was so small, etc.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially in the dining room, but as homeschoolers this was a need for us, and that wall was the only place in the house that was available. I don’t regret it though, as my children’s lives and minds are all the richer for it.
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POSTED IN: General Play Library Goodies
2 opinions for The World at your Children’s Fingertips
Lei
Aug 23, 2005 at 7:16 am
Maps are so cool!! My loves globes too and points out all the places his grandparents and aunts and uncles live whenever he sees them. :)
carrie
Aug 24, 2005 at 8:34 pm
that’s great. maps are cool.
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