What are cardinal directions?

Cardinal directions are the four main ways to point when you're facing a compass, north, south, east, and west.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy car on the floor. If you push it straight ahead, that’s like going north. If you turn the car around and go backward, that's south. Now, if you turn the car to your right and zoom off, that’s east, just like when you walk from your bedroom to the kitchen in the morning. And if you turn left and run, that’s west, like going from the kitchen back to your room.

When grown-ups give directions, they often use cardinal directions, like “Turn right at the big tree; you're heading east now.” It's just a fancy way of saying where you're going. Think of it like giving your toy car a map!

You can even make your own compass with a paper plate and some stickers, north, south, east, and west all in one fun place!