How to teach your Toddler Geography
It is important to start teaching young children about where they live, maps, and the world around them. As children come to understand location they begin understand how they are a part of that location and how that location is a part of the world. Children two years and up can learn about what state they live in, what states surround their location, the name of the country they live in, and the continent. Here are some fun ways to teach children geography:
1) Start by teaching children what state they live in. Get a United states map and circle the state they live in with a dry erase marker. Tell them this is "New Jersey" and point at it, for example. Then the next day you can ask them "where is NJ?" if they don't point to where it is show them. Keep asking them where they live everyday.
2) Use stickers to place on the states to help them remember location. Ask them again where they live and then ask them to place a sticker on top of that state. Place stickers on other states surrounding that one and tell them the names. If you have family members that live in surrounding states or there is a fact, monument, landmark that is special about that state tell them about it. It helps them make a connection with that state.
3) Have them complete puzzles of the U.S
4) Help them memorize the U.S. 50 states by teaching one region at a time. This breaks up the U.S. by 4 regions that are easy to learn: The North East, The South, The Midwest, the West. Focus on one region at a time.
5) Play state bingo! Call out the state and have the child place beans or bingo chips on the state.
6) Have the child do a coloring page of the region and talk about the states they are coloring:
For a complete toddler region geography activity pack with printable maps, puzzles, games, and fun, hands on activities, plus a memorization technique to learn all 50 states, click below:
Geography toddler pack!
Instruction manual with daily schedule included!
Grades PK-3rd
