What are proto-maps?

Proto-maps are like playground blueprints that help kids build the best sandbox ever, before they even start digging.

Imagine you and your friends want to create a super cool playground in your backyard. You don’t have shovels or buckets yet, but you do have paper and crayons. That’s when you draw a proto-map, it’s like a picture of what the playground will look like when it's finished.

A proto-map might show where the slide goes, where the swings are, or even a secret hideout under a bush. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just fun and easy to understand. You can draw stick figures for friends or use wiggly lines for rivers of sand.

Proto-maps help you plan ahead without getting confused. They’re like a story that shows what your sandbox will become, so when you start building, everything feels like part of the same big adventure!