Spatial orientation is a concept that is mainly discussed in the field of geography. However, children are concerned with their spatial orientation all day long and, no less important; their spatial development. Children quickly understand that toys come in a box, but they do not yet understand that children can also sit in a box themselves.
Room
When we talk about space, we see three different types of spaces:
- Body space;
- Space in 3 dimensions;
- Space in 2 dimensions.
Space in 3 dimensions is real or reduced. The spaces in 2 dimensions are abstract or depicted.
Spatial orientation
Spatial orientation is determining position, direction and distance in different spaces. You can link these three to a number of concepts:
- Position: concepts such as in, above, below direction
- Direction: concepts such as from, to, through, around
- Distance: concepts such as close, far
Why spatial orientation?
There are a number of reasons why spatial orientation is important for children:
- Sensitive period;
- Practical skill;
- Basic skills for:
- Development materials;
- Reading, writing and arithmetic;
- World orientation;
- Instructions.
These reasons have everything to do with the different levels that can be seen during spatial development.
Spacial development
Within spatial development we see three levels that can be placed in a diagram. You can link these levels to skills.
Levels
We see the following levels within spatial development:
- Own body.
- Relationship of child – space;
- Relationship between objects.
This indicates the following development:
- Getting to know your own body space;
- Learning to deal with the actual space;
- Learning to deal with the reduced space;
- Relationships in the flat plane;
- Relationships in depicted and abstract space.
Skills
For this development it is necessary that the students develop skills. We see the following skills:
- Being able to use concepts;
- Seeing and understanding space (structuring);
- Solve the problem by coming up with a solution yourself.
Being able to use concepts
The children must be able to use all spatial concepts . These concepts must be known both passively and actively.
Structuring
Being able to see and understand the space is also called structuring. The space must be able to be viewed and copied by:
- copy;
- Rebuild;
- Afterwards.
Solving spatial problems
This skill is about children being able to solve a spatial problem without using an example.
Van Kuijk
If you combine the skills and the different spaces, a schedule is created; van Kuijk’s scheme. This table contains all spatial orientation contents. The diagram below shows the diagram, click on the image to enlarge it. The rooms are vertically positioned below each other, the skills are positioned horizontally next to each other. Children are expected to be able to apply all skills in each room when they leave primary school.