English Directions for Children: A Small Map Game
Practise go straight, turn left and turn right with a tabletop map. Try a sample route, swap roles and use an interactive activity with explanations.
Quick answer: Begin with a small paper map and three instructions: go straight, turn left and turn right. Mark the front of a toy vehicle, then let one person give directions while the other moves it.
2026-10-05 · Stayeng parent guide
Put this guide into practice
- Draw a map with three places.
- Mark the front of the toy vehicle.
- Begin with one command and swap roles.
- Keep one route to share with the teacher.
Try it together
Choose an answer and read the explanation. This is a short practice activity, not a level test. Answers are not saved.
Which instruction asks for a left turn?
- Go straight.
- Turn left.
- Stop.
Answer and explanation
Turn left.: Turn left changes the toy’s direction to its left. Check which way the toy faces first.
Which instruction means continue without turning?
- Go straight.
- Turn right.
- Stop.
Answer and explanation
Go straight.: Go straight means continue ahead. Try it on a short paper road.
Choose the instruction to finish at the park.
- Where is red?
- Turn happy.
- Stop at the park.
Answer and explanation
Stop at the park.: Stop at the park tells the driver where to finish the movement.
Location and directions are different tasks
“The bus is next to the park” describes a location. “Turn left” changes the direction of movement. Knowing in, on or under does not automatically mean a child can follow a route. Avoid introducing a long address and many unfamiliar place names at once.
British Council provides maps and directions vocabulary activities for extra practice. For this original tabletop game, you only need a home, a park and a school connected by simple roads. An accurate city map is unnecessary.
Agree on the same point of view
Mark the front of the toy car and sit behind it, facing the same way. Turn right should mean the car’s right, not the right of a person sitting opposite. An unclear viewpoint can cause a wrong turn even when the child understands the English.
Check the route’s basic idea in a familiar language if necessary. Then say one English instruction and wait for the child to move the toy. Moving it automatically on their behalf removes the opportunity to show what they understood.
The first route: home to the park
Draw a road going upwards with a right-hand branch at its end. Put home at the start and the park at the end of the branch. Begin with the car facing upwards. Say “Go straight”, then “Turn right”, then “Stop at the park”.
Once your child finishes, become the driver and let them give directions. If they need help, show two command cards and read the one they choose. Use stop for the endpoint instead of adding every possible direction in the same round.
Make the challenge manageable
If one command works but three do not, give instructions one at a time. If left and right are confusing, repeat the turn from the same starting position rather than adding buildings. A child who does not read can listen to an adult instead.
A more confident learner can connect two steps with “Go straight, then turn left.” On another round, choose the school as the destination. Keep the game on the table; it does not need blindfolded walking or any practice around real traffic.
Connect the map to a lesson
Share the same three instructions with the Stayeng teacher. A vehicle or map-themed lesson can give the child the directing role. Notice which instruction they say independently as well as whether the toy reaches its destination.
The activity below checks the meaning of the words; it is not a substitute for moving along a map. Afterwards, play a round on your own drawing. This turns a selected answer into a small listening, action and speaking task.
Frequently asked questions
Does confusing left and right mean the child does not know English?
Not necessarily. Clarify the toy’s direction and viewpoint first. Check whether the same instruction makes sense in a familiar language.
Does my child need to read?
No. An adult can say the instructions and simple drawings can represent the places.