TinyStepper
Child pressing colourful stickers onto paper with tissue paper and glue

Favourite Book Map

Draw a simple map of a favourite story's setting — where did the character go, and what happened at each spot?

Activity details

2y–3y15 minslowindoorConstruction PaperCrayonsStickers

Instructions

Get ready
  • Choose a story with a clear journey — 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt,' 'The Gruffalo,' or any book where the character moves through different places.
  • After reading, place a large sheet of paper and crayons on the table.
  1. Choose a story with a clear journey — 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt,' 'The Gruffalo,' or any book where the character moves through different places.
  2. After reading, place a large sheet of paper and crayons on the table.
  3. Draw a simple starting point together: 'Where did the character begin? Let's draw their house here.'
  4. Ask 'Where did they go first?' and draw a path from the house to the next location — your child can add the details.
  5. At each stop, ask 'What happened here?' and let your child draw or describe the event while you add quick sketches.
  6. Continue until you reach the end of the story — the map should show three to five key locations.
  7. Trace the whole path with your finger and retell the story using the map: 'First we went here, then here…'
  8. Let your child add their own extras — trees, animals, weather — the map becomes their version of the story world.

Parent tip

Set out construction paper and crayons before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Proud child holding up a painted sheet covered in bright handprints and splatters

What success looks like

Messy hands and a child who doesn’t want to stop. The artwork doesn’t need to look like anything — the process is the point.

After reading a story together, your child draws (or helps you draw) a map showing where the main character went and what happened at each location. This moves comprehension beyond recall into spatial and analytical thinking, as the child must mentally reconstruct the story's journey and represent it visually. Map-making deepens understanding of plot sequence and setting while introducing the concept that stories happen in places — a key element of narrative structure.

Why it helps

Speech and Language UK recommends looking at books together as a great way to help children learn new words and build communication skills. Story mapping is a comprehension strategy used throughout formal education, and introducing it in a simple, visual form during the toddler years builds the cognitive framework early. Representing a narrative spatially requires the child to recall events in order, understand cause and effect between scenes, and translate an auditory experience into a visual one. This cross-modal transfer strengthens both verbal and spatial working memory.

Variations

  • Use stickers or small objects placed on the map to represent characters, then physically move them along the route as you retell.
  • Make the map on the floor using masking tape paths and cushion 'locations,' then walk through the story.
  • Create a map for a story your child invents — they design the world and you draw it together.

Safety tips

  • Supervise crayon use with younger toddlers who may still mouth art materials — ensure crayons are non-toxic.
  • If using masking tape on floors, test a small area first to ensure it does not damage the surface when removed.
  • Keep scissors away from the activity if cutting is not needed — offer pre-torn paper or stickers instead.

Want to try another?

Book Author Game

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