A really great gift for a child is a map of the world poster to go on their bedroom wall.
It can really help to instill an interest in other peoples, travel, the climate and can help with their education too.
There are a whole range of types of map that depict the world though, so which to choose? A physical map of the world will show physical features on the surface of the planet.
This will include the oceans and seas, major rivers, lakes and mountain ranges.
It will tend not to define or name countries.
However, it will probably name the key physical features mentioned above, and also physical land features such as the Great Plains of North America or the Plateau of Tibet.
It will probably name the important islands of the world and some of these might coincide with countries such as Madagascar or Cuba, but the island rather than the country is being referred to.
The colours used will approximate the actual colours, so bodies of water will be blue, the snow of the Arctic or Antarctic white and the tropical forest regions green.
The result should be rather like looking out of a plane window.
Another option is a political map which shows countries or states, depicted by a range of arbitrary colours which serve only to define clearly the boundaries between the countries.
Capital and major cities might also be represented.
Of course, a political map can very quickly become out of date as countries merge with each other or break up.
The changes in the late twentieth century in Europe and Asia linked to the break up of the Soviet Union had a massive impact on the political map of the world.
A topographical map is very popular, as it should represent all the key features on the surface of the world.
This should mean that the physical features are included as well as the countries and major urban areas.
Roads, canals and railways might also be present, along with reservoirs, national parks or even volcanoes.
Finally, and or a more specialist interest nature, world maps can highlight pretty much anything that has global reach, such as mineral deposits round the planet, population density or precipitation.
These probably will not make for the most interesting starter map for a child, but they are often included in good atlases and are a valuable learning tool.
Once you have chosen your map, it is great to use it whenever you are planning a holiday or talking about friends who live abroad.
There are also all manner of games you can devise to get the most enjoyment possible out of your purchase.
Try guessing capital cities given the name of the country, or memorizing the oceans and continents.
For a bed time story for a young one, get them to close their eyes and point to three or four places on the map.
Make up a story linking these locations and the adventures and people you might meet travelling between them.
As a serious learning tool to understand the world we live in, or for a bit of fun with your family, a world map is a great option.
It can really help to instill an interest in other peoples, travel, the climate and can help with their education too.
There are a whole range of types of map that depict the world though, so which to choose? A physical map of the world will show physical features on the surface of the planet.
This will include the oceans and seas, major rivers, lakes and mountain ranges.
It will tend not to define or name countries.
However, it will probably name the key physical features mentioned above, and also physical land features such as the Great Plains of North America or the Plateau of Tibet.
It will probably name the important islands of the world and some of these might coincide with countries such as Madagascar or Cuba, but the island rather than the country is being referred to.
The colours used will approximate the actual colours, so bodies of water will be blue, the snow of the Arctic or Antarctic white and the tropical forest regions green.
The result should be rather like looking out of a plane window.
Another option is a political map which shows countries or states, depicted by a range of arbitrary colours which serve only to define clearly the boundaries between the countries.
Capital and major cities might also be represented.
Of course, a political map can very quickly become out of date as countries merge with each other or break up.
The changes in the late twentieth century in Europe and Asia linked to the break up of the Soviet Union had a massive impact on the political map of the world.
A topographical map is very popular, as it should represent all the key features on the surface of the world.
This should mean that the physical features are included as well as the countries and major urban areas.
Roads, canals and railways might also be present, along with reservoirs, national parks or even volcanoes.
Finally, and or a more specialist interest nature, world maps can highlight pretty much anything that has global reach, such as mineral deposits round the planet, population density or precipitation.
These probably will not make for the most interesting starter map for a child, but they are often included in good atlases and are a valuable learning tool.
Once you have chosen your map, it is great to use it whenever you are planning a holiday or talking about friends who live abroad.
There are also all manner of games you can devise to get the most enjoyment possible out of your purchase.
Try guessing capital cities given the name of the country, or memorizing the oceans and continents.
For a bed time story for a young one, get them to close their eyes and point to three or four places on the map.
Make up a story linking these locations and the adventures and people you might meet travelling between them.
As a serious learning tool to understand the world we live in, or for a bit of fun with your family, a world map is a great option.