Family camping trips are a great place to teach your kids some valuable life lessons, whether it be cooking, exploring, survival skills or so much more.
One of the most important lessons you can teach your child from an early age is a good sense of direction. A sense of direction will help them feel comfortable and confident that they can always find their way back to their starting point should they ever get lost.
And let’s face it, we all get lost from time to time whether we like to admit it or not!
There are certain things we can teach our kids about direction that will absolutely help them determine directions, like that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But what if it’s a cloudy day out?
That’s why the greatest tool that we have at our disposal is most definitely the compass. Using one can be fun and practical, especially once we’ve been taught the basics.
And teaching your kids how to use a compass isn’t just useful for camping and hiking trips. It easily translates into everyday life as well. Whether you’re walking the city blocks or taking some unfamiliar trails home from the park, it is always comforting to know you’re headed in the right direction.
Being able to determine which direction you’re facing and which direction you want to travel in is a skill that can be used each and every day without even realizing it.
How to use a compass for kids
Teaching a child to use a compass should be taken in small, basic steps to avoid information overload and confusion. Start by teaching them the four cardinal directions; being north, east, west and south.
You probably remember the acronym you were taught as a kid and giving them one to remember will help keep those directions in order.
A couple good ones to remember are:
- Never Eat Shredded Wheat
- Never Eat Soggy Waffles
Anything fun and easy to remember will keep your kids engaged so have some fun with it and try to make up one of your own if you like.
How to use a Compass for Kids – Learning the 4 Cardinal Directions
Remembering the acronym is only half the battle. It’s important that kids can remember that each letter represents a direction.
Try having them point forward and indicate that it is north. Next, have them take a quarter turn clockwise and tell them that it will be east. Another quarter turn for south and finally one more quarter turn to indicate west.
Once they’ve got the basic directions down it’s time to break out the compass.
Holding a Compass
Have them hold it flat and away from their body. Point out that the arrow will always point to the north. (Tell them that it points toward Santa and this might help them understand and remember that it points to the north. You can teach them about true north versus magnetic north another day).
Next you can start to show them how to set their bearing so that they can follow a direction of travel. Let them turn the dial and line up the orienting arrow with the magnetic needle on the compass and the direction of travel arrow. This direction of travel would be north.
Now have them turn a quarter turn clockwise and take note that the magnetic needle continues to point north!
However, the orienting arrow and direction of travel arrow are still pointing straight out in front of their body.
Have them turn the dial to line up the orienting arrow with the magnetic needle once again. The direction of travel arrow is now pointing east while the magnetic needle and orienting arrow are lined up north.
Explain that following the direction of travel arrow would take them on an eastward path.
Have your child walk around a bit and try to keep their direction in a straight line.
Once they’ve got the hang of it, have them spin around and attempt to find their bearings once again. This time with a new direction.
Make Using a Compass Fun
Making a game of it will be fun and informative. Add a little extra by hiding some objects around the yard for them to find as they follow bearings to certain locations.
Most importantly, keep it light and have fun! Your child will know how to use a compass in no time!!
Finding a Compass for Kids
While every compass will perform the same task, if you want your kids to be excited and engaged it’s always nice to get them the gear that suits their personality.
There are plenty of colorful compasses with varying options that your child will love to use and hold onto. Many come packaged together with binoculars and other survival tools like whistles and flashlights as well!
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