Distance, direction, and symbols are the major components of a map.

First thing you need to do is show the key – also called legend – to your child and have them read it out loud to make sure they understand all the symbols and lines. Red line = major highway, yellow line = crappy back-country road, green line = medium-sized roads, big dots = towns, etcetera.

A map is a symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface. Maps present information about the world in a simple, visual way. They teach about the world by showing sizes and shapes of countries, locations of features, and distances between places.