This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
Have you ever wondered how children learn to find their way around? Whether it’s navigating their way to school, finding the bathroom in a new house, or exploring a park, kids rely on a combination of skills to make sense of the world around them. This process is called wayfinding, and it’s a critical part of spatial abilities.
Wayfinding involves using cues like landmarks (“There’s the big tree!”), routes (“Go left at the swings, then straight past the bench”), and even mental maps to navigate spaces. It’s more than just knowing where to go—it’s about building confidence in understanding surroundings and solving problems independently.
.jpg)
At our lab, we’re studying how kids develop these abilities and what factors influence them. Not only do children learn valuable wayfinding skills during our research activities, but they also have a blast exploring interactive tasks and playful environments. For example, do children rely more on landmarks, like colorful signs or unique objects? How does age affect their ability to form mental maps? Our research helps answer these questions by observing how kids navigate real-world and virtual environments.
Why does this matter? Understanding how children develop these abilities can help parents, educators, and even designers of child-friendly spaces create environments that better support learning and exploration.
Interested in participating? Learn more and sign up here: https://www.msuspatiallab.com/copy-of-spatial-skills-in-children
This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.
