Gifts filter: geography themed gifts for a kid
July 12, 2023 12:21 PM Subscribe
What to get a kid who's into geography? Difficulty level: either available to order online and ship, or fairly easily portable.
I have a youth in my life turning 7 soon; they're into geography and maps and flags. I don't really know a ton about kids and I'm really blanking on how to even begin looking for gifts along those lines. (They also enjoy, like, magnatiles and legos and Minecraft, so I think if there was something geography-like but also involved building or assembling, they'd probably like that too.)
They are in a rural area, not near many museums or science centers or the like, so subscriptions/memberships like that are impractical. A subscription to a magazine might work better if it was the right reading level/age group, but the kid is not a particularly voracious reader.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I have a youth in my life turning 7 soon; they're into geography and maps and flags. I don't really know a ton about kids and I'm really blanking on how to even begin looking for gifts along those lines. (They also enjoy, like, magnatiles and legos and Minecraft, so I think if there was something geography-like but also involved building or assembling, they'd probably like that too.)
They are in a rural area, not near many museums or science centers or the like, so subscriptions/memberships like that are impractical. A subscription to a magazine might work better if it was the right reading level/age group, but the kid is not a particularly voracious reader.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
As a young kid with similar fascinations I loved mine, so think outside the box/atmosphere and get them a moon globe.
posted by AzraelBrown at 12:26 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by AzraelBrown at 12:26 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was a huge geography nerd as a kid (and eventually majored in it at college!). At that age I would lie on the floor and spend hours poring over a copy we had of the Times Atlas of the World, 9th Edition. I don't know if they still make gorgeously hand-designed comprehensive atlases like that, but I know that book was probably my favorite single object in the house. Google indicates that you can get used editions of the Times Atlas for reasonable prices - some borders and names might be different, but that in itself can be an interesting learning opportunity.
posted by theodolite at 12:27 PM on July 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 12:27 PM on July 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
You could take a look at the Little Passports subscription offering and see if it feels like it might be a good fit. A grandparent got this for my kids and they were very much NOT into it, maybe already too old or just not interested, but it always struck me as a pretty cool thing for the right kid at the right age.
posted by staggernation at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by staggernation at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Rumpl blankets are very nice, and you can get them with maps of national parks on them.
If that's too rich for your blood, there are tons of gifts with National Park Service/USGS maps printed on them, too.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:31 PM on July 12, 2023
If that's too rich for your blood, there are tons of gifts with National Park Service/USGS maps printed on them, too.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:31 PM on July 12, 2023
The Scrambled States of America game is really fun. It says it's for ages 8+ but I wouldn't let that stop you. It's such a blast.
posted by meemzi at 12:46 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by meemzi at 12:46 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Color your own world map bedsheets! They are washable so the kid can do it over and over.
posted by Mizu at 12:47 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Mizu at 12:47 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am also a kid-to-grown-up map nerd.
I had some sort of hand held electronic Carmen San Diego game as a kid, that I liked a lot. The game and brand are still selling Merch so check out reviews to see if they're worth it.
Board game Ticket to Ride may also be a hit.
I believe that every home should have a world map hung on the wall, in easy viewing angle to small and big people.
If kid's map interest overlaps a public transport interest, Transit Maps of the World may also be a hit.
posted by paradeofblimps at 1:24 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I had some sort of hand held electronic Carmen San Diego game as a kid, that I liked a lot. The game and brand are still selling Merch so check out reviews to see if they're worth it.
Board game Ticket to Ride may also be a hit.
I believe that every home should have a world map hung on the wall, in easy viewing angle to small and big people.
If kid's map interest overlaps a public transport interest, Transit Maps of the World may also be a hit.
posted by paradeofblimps at 1:24 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My grandson just turned 8 and is also very much into geography. He has a world atlas for kids and a regular world atlas. He has a subscription to National Geo Kids. He has an interactive globe, an older version of something like this.
When they go on road trips he uses a road atlas. He has lots and lots of old paper road maps and National Geo maps. (The kid has several grandparents and older cousins, who nourish his interests.)
I recently got him this book, which he likes. I vividly remember being around 7 or 8 and a homework assignment was to draw a map of the route from my home to school. This book does similar stuff.
He was happy with a simple inflatable globe beach ball when he was younger, but he's now so knowledgeable he'd be critiquing it all the time.
posted by mareli at 1:31 PM on July 12, 2023
When they go on road trips he uses a road atlas. He has lots and lots of old paper road maps and National Geo maps. (The kid has several grandparents and older cousins, who nourish his interests.)
I recently got him this book, which he likes. I vividly remember being around 7 or 8 and a homework assignment was to draw a map of the route from my home to school. This book does similar stuff.
He was happy with a simple inflatable globe beach ball when he was younger, but he's now so knowledgeable he'd be critiquing it all the time.
posted by mareli at 1:31 PM on July 12, 2023
I think this would be awesome: Geography Coloring Book. Even if he doesn't do much coloring in it. I had the Anatomy one as a kid and learned a TON.
posted by nkknkk at 1:57 PM on July 12, 2023
posted by nkknkk at 1:57 PM on July 12, 2023
Maybe take a look at the Greenwich Observatory shop? They have some options for kids. Added cool factor of being from another country!
posted by praemunire at 2:03 PM on July 12, 2023
posted by praemunire at 2:03 PM on July 12, 2023
Does he have a globe? Also a kids atlas or travel book. Lonely Planet has a lot of nice ones.
posted by vunder at 2:12 PM on July 12, 2023
posted by vunder at 2:12 PM on July 12, 2023
I had a geography nerd kid as well, and she LOVED Nat Geo Kids. It has a ton of pictures and graphics, lots of short articles + a couple more in depth ones, and is very approachable for kids who don't necessarily want to read long books. My friend gave my kid a 2-year subscription as a Xmas gift around that age and renewed it at my kid's request for years, until she was old enough to want the regular Nat Geo magazine. So I definitely second that suggestion.
Also second the Scrambled States of America board game. Easy and fun to learn and play, and a game that most grown-ups don't mind playing.
This world flag coloring tablecloth could be a hit if they're the patient sort of 7-year old.
There are also a ton of map jigsaw puzzles on Amazon that would work for kids - world or US states, and lots of puzzle piece sizes/materials to choose from. I know puzzles aren't the same as building with Legos, but they might scratch a similar sort of itch.
posted by widdershins at 2:42 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also second the Scrambled States of America board game. Easy and fun to learn and play, and a game that most grown-ups don't mind playing.
This world flag coloring tablecloth could be a hit if they're the patient sort of 7-year old.
There are also a ton of map jigsaw puzzles on Amazon that would work for kids - world or US states, and lots of puzzle piece sizes/materials to choose from. I know puzzles aren't the same as building with Legos, but they might scratch a similar sort of itch.
posted by widdershins at 2:42 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I have a younger kid (4) who's also a geography nerd and she's been digging
- Map jigsaw puzzles. We don't have this so I can't vouch for it, but how about a magnetic map puzzle?
- A nice large globe
- Flashcards with capitals (we made them for her, but I bet they're puchaseable)
- An activity book. We have one where she can match flag stickers with the country name, color flags, etc -- that may be too childish for a 7 year old. I bet there are others in that vein.
posted by redlines at 4:36 PM on July 12, 2023
- Map jigsaw puzzles. We don't have this so I can't vouch for it, but how about a magnetic map puzzle?
- A nice large globe
- Flashcards with capitals (we made them for her, but I bet they're puchaseable)
- An activity book. We have one where she can match flag stickers with the country name, color flags, etc -- that may be too childish for a 7 year old. I bet there are others in that vein.
posted by redlines at 4:36 PM on July 12, 2023
Also, assuming they're not already a fan, I'd let them watch Geography Now on YouTube (Wiki page).
posted by Rhaomi at 4:42 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhaomi at 4:42 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
National Geographic Kids is a great magazine! Highly recommended.
posted by potrzebie at 5:59 PM on July 12, 2023
posted by potrzebie at 5:59 PM on July 12, 2023
Your 7 year old person may also be interested in this Where In The World game from Talicor.
You can play in a variety of ways, beginning with simply matching countries to their location on a game map (each continent has its own game board). Other versions incorporate knowledge about the countries such as language(s), religion(s), natural resources, etc.
The game spans quite an age range for the geographically minded. One of my kids was into geography pretty young, and could play smaller game boards like South America around age 4. And I have fond memories of playing a yearly tournament with a couple of cousins well into our 20's, blitzing our way through all the boards and keeping a running tally for bragging rights until the next year.
posted by jolenex4 at 7:38 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
You can play in a variety of ways, beginning with simply matching countries to their location on a game map (each continent has its own game board). Other versions incorporate knowledge about the countries such as language(s), religion(s), natural resources, etc.
The game spans quite an age range for the geographically minded. One of my kids was into geography pretty young, and could play smaller game boards like South America around age 4. And I have fond memories of playing a yearly tournament with a couple of cousins well into our 20's, blitzing our way through all the boards and keeping a running tally for bragging rights until the next year.
posted by jolenex4 at 7:38 PM on July 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Thirding map jigsaws. I probably wouldn't go more than 250 pieces at that age - this one for instance. Maybe also Mapominoes Europe?
And they may be too young for it, depending on their reading level, but might still get something out of Who and Why and Which and What: a global gazetteer of the instructive and strange. There is a page for each country, with a map surrounded by facts about the country.
posted by paduasoy at 11:18 AM on July 13, 2023
And they may be too young for it, depending on their reading level, but might still get something out of Who and Why and Which and What: a global gazetteer of the instructive and strange. There is a page for each country, with a map surrounded by facts about the country.
posted by paduasoy at 11:18 AM on July 13, 2023
I don’t know your budget, but the best gift for my geography-obsessed son at that age was a Universal Yums subscription. It comes with a map of the country, a cool pamphlet that includes country facts, a trivia quiz, a recipe, and food info, and then a bunch of junk food. My kid saved all the pamphlets and would read them over and over again.
He mastered the Scambled States of America game at age 4 but was a pro at Ticket to Ride by age 6. The Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries version is the best for small kid hands, and the board itself is perfect for a 20-40 minute game.
posted by Maarika at 1:01 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
He mastered the Scambled States of America game at age 4 but was a pro at Ticket to Ride by age 6. The Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries version is the best for small kid hands, and the board itself is perfect for a 20-40 minute game.
posted by Maarika at 1:01 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:25 PM on July 12, 2023