Most children love studying maps, especially if the map highlights the places you’ll be travelling through while driving to your holiday destination.
Jessica Bowers, a family travel blogger, created a chalkboard-fabric map for her children to track their progress on long road trips. “It’s quite versatile,” she says. Jessica used a jigsaw puzzle as a template to draw the cities. However, we found it far easier to paint a wooden board using chalkboard paint (instead of fabric) and then trace a map onto it with the help of a printable template downloaded from the Internet.
What you’ll need
- Travel map (choose a map of the city you’re going to – printable from the Internet)
- Wood board (size is up to you and your child), or wooden frame with chipboard backing
- Sandpaper (if needed)
- Ruler and pencil
- Pencil
- Paint roller
- Chalkboard paint
- Chalk (for curing the paint)
- Chalkboard markers
How to make it
- Select a wood board and give it a light sanding if it’s rough. If you prefer, you can also use a wooden frame with chipboard backing (just remove the glass).
- Wipe the board down thoroughly to remove any dust from the sanding. Then help your child paint the board using a smooth roller and chalkboard paint, following the instructions on the paint can.
- After the paint has fully dried, prep the chalkboard by rubbing the side (not the end) of a piece of chalk horizontally and then vertically across your entire board. Once the board is covered, wipe with a soft rag or cloth.
- Download a printable map design of your holiday destination and size the map to fit whatever size board you have. We found simple maps work far better than complicated ones.
- Help your child trace the artwork onto the board using a pencil.
- Use an oil-based paint pen to trace the pencil lines you created then allow it to dry.
- Take the map along with you on your journey, allowing your child to map the progress of your travels until you’ve reached your destination.