Arts & Crafts
Our Shared Story Map
Take turns drawing a place, then imagine how you would travel there together.
Ages 3 to 8
20 minutes
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Get ready
1 minute. Put the paper where you can both reach it comfortably.
What you’ll need
A large sheet of paper, or two sheets side by side, and crayons.
Let’s play
1. Draw a starting place together. It can be your sofa or a completely imaginary island.
2. Your child adds somewhere they would like to go. Draw a path from the starting point.
3. Add one surprise along the path, then ask your child how you might get past it.
4. Follow the finished map with a finger and tell the adventure back to one another.
Your part in the adventure
Be a fellow explorer. Add to the story without taking over the drawing.
What they’re discovering
Taking turns on one drawing mixes storytelling, planning a route and seeing the trip from someone else’s side.
Before you begin
Use non toxic crayons and keep them out of mouths. Keep the places on the map made up, not your real address.
Keep the idea going
Retell the journey with sound effects instead of words, or let your kid dictate while you draw. Ages 6 to 8 can add a compass and a legend. If the map stalls, drop a storm or a friendly monster on the path and ask what happens.
Every child is different. Adjust activities for their age and abilities, and stay close by. These are play ideas, not medical or developmental advice.