Position and location explained for parents (Australia)

Homework says put the teddy beside the chair, who is on the left? or draw a path from the gate to the tree - and Australian parents start rearranging toys on the lounge-room floor. Schools talk about position, location, beside, between, left and right, above and below, near and far, and simple maps or directions. Early space language here is about where things sit relative to each other - not naming every flat shape, not labelling 1st/2nd/3rd in a race, and not measuring turns at corners.

This guide unpacks position and location for Prep–Year 2 with plain language, real-world language games before worksheets, and calm home practice. It sits beside ordinal numbers (first/second/third as number language in a line), 2D shapes (naming sides and corners), angles (turns and corners), patterns (repeating and growing rules), and year maps from Prep through Year 2 maths. It is not an ordinals, angles or shape-names page - beside/between/left-right/above-below/near-far and simple directions own this thread.

The big idea: where things sit (relative to something else)

Position and location words describe where one thing is compared with another: the cup is beside the plate; the dog is between two chairs; the bird is above the fence; the shop is near the park.

Teachers may also say next to, in front of, behind, on, under, left, right, path, or give directions. Same family of ideas. Australian Curriculum Mathematics (version 9) builds location language across Foundation to Year 2 (Foundation–Year 2). Echo your child's class phrases.

A quick parent check: beside / between / left / right / above / below / near / far / follow the path → this page. 1st / 2nd / 3rd in a race or line as number language → ordinal numbers. How many sides? / what shape? → 2D shapes. Quarter turn / right angle / corner → angles.

Language games first (worksheets second)

Abstract "circle the object on the left" quizzes land better after one concrete story:

1. 1. Put a teddy, a cup and a book on the table.
2. 2. Ask: "Put the teddy beside the cup."
3. 3. Ask: "What is between the teddy and the book?"
4. 4. Say aloud: "The teddy is beside the cup - beside means next to."

Children who only colour worksheet blanks without moving real objects often guess from the picture they like. Move; name the word; then match a picture. Prep may only need beside / on / under / in front. Years 1–2 add left/right from the child's view, between, near/far, and simple map talk when the class asks.

At home: celebrate the sentence ("the ball is under the chair") before a perfect worksheet row. Keep sessions short.

Position language parents meet in Prep–Year 2

Beside / next to. Touching or almost touching on the side. "Sit beside me." "The spoon is next to the bowl."

Between. In the middle of two things. "The cat is between the two boots." Check they did not point at one end.

Above / below (and over / under). Higher or lower than something else. "The light is above the table." "The shoes are under the bed." Everyday furniture beats a worksheet grid.

In front / behind. Facing the front of something. Start with the child facing the same way as the toy; "from the teddy's point of view" comes later.

Left and right. Harder than beside - they depend on which way you face. Begin with the child's own hands, then objects when they face the same way. "The doll's left" comes later.

Near / far. Rough distance talk, not formal metres. Links gently to length and distance without becoming a measuring night.

Simple maps and directions. A sketch of the backyard or park; a path from gate to tree; "go forward, turn left, stop." Early map talk is still position language - not compass or scale.

Stick to beside / between / left-right / above-below / near-far / path until the class goes further.

Real-world position before worksheets

Schools often ask children to describe, follow or give position instructions. A scavenger hunt in the lounge room and a chalk path on the driveway teach more in five minutes than ten unmarked boxes.

At home: "Put the sock behind the cushion." "Stand between the two chairs." "Is the fridge on your left when you face the sink?" Rushing blanks without one real move creates tears on homework nights.

Link gently to shape names without a full 2D shapes drill. Path turns → angles. Race places → ordinal numbers. Colour rows → patterns.

Year-by-year feel (Prep–Year 2)

Prep / Foundation: on, under, beside, in front, behind - with toys and body movement. Left/right may be light. Year map: Prep maths.

Year 1: firmer beside/between/above/below; left and right from the child's view; short oral directions; simple picture maps. Year map: Year 1 maths.

Year 2: clearer left/right; give as well as follow directions; simple paths on a sketch map; near/far in sentences. Year map: Year 2 maths.

Ask which words (beside, between, left, right, path, map) your child's class uses this term.

Position is not ordinals (and not angles or shape names)

Mix-ups parents hear in the same week:

• Position / location / beside / between / left-right / above-below / near-far / path - where something sits relative to something else (this page).
• Ordinal numbers - first / second / third as number language for place in an ordered line (ordinal numbers).
• Angles - turns, right angles, corners (angles).
• 2D shapes - flat drawings with sides and corners (2D shapes).
• Patterns - repeating or growing rules (patterns).

A line of children can be talked about with beside ("Sam is beside Maya") and with second ("Sam is second") - two different questions. Where relative to another object → this page. Place-in-the-race number words → ordinal numbers. "Turn a quarter turn at the corner" → angles.

A simple weekly home routine

1. 1. Two minutes of notice - spot one position word in the room ("the lamp is above the table") and say it aloud.
2. 2. Three minutes of move - give three place instructions with toys ("beside", "between", "under").
3. 3. Three minutes of left/right (when the class asks) - child faces the same way as you; name left hand, then "the cup is on your left."
4. 4. Optional map (Year 1–2) - sketch the backyard; draw a path from gate to tree; walk it together.

Stop while it is still friendly. If position nights tip into worry, shrink the session and see maths anxiety in primary kids.

Games that do not feel like homework

Teddy hide. Hide a teddy; child finds it from clues only: "beside the blue cushion," then "under the blanket." Swap roles.

Obstacle path. Cushions as stepping stones. "Go forward, turn left, stop between the chairs." If talk slides into right angles, park that on angles.

Left-hand sticker. A sticker on the left hand for one short game while facing the same way; remove it after.

Kitchen map. Sketch table, fridge and sink. Ask "which is nearest the door?" Shape names stay light (2D shapes later if needed).

Race line vs beside. Line up three toys. "Who is beside the red car?" then separately "who is second?" - keep ordinals on ordinal numbers.

Keep games under ten minutes. The win is a clear position sentence.

Common mix-ups (and kinder fixes)

Answering "how many?" when asked "where?". Rephrase: "Show me with your finger where it sits."

Mixing beside with first/second/third. Beside = next to. First/second = ordered-line place - see ordinal numbers.

Left/right flipping when they turn around. Face the same way first. "Your left" before "the doll's left."

Turning a path into an angles test. Follow the path; save quarter-turns for angles.

Turning a map into a shapes test. Use simple blobs; save "how many sides?" for 2D shapes.

Racing worksheet grids before one real move. Move once; name the word; then a short picture match.

If wobbles sit inside a broader "behind?" worry, see Is my child behind in maths?.

How this links to other guides

• Ordinal numbers - first/second/third as number language in a line (sibling early-number topic)
• 2D shapes - flat sides and corners (sibling geometry topic)
• Angles - turns, right angles, corners (sibling geometry topic)
• Patterns - repeating and growing rules (sibling early algebra topic)
• Length and distance - how long / how far with informal then formal units (measurement sibling)
• Prep maths - early position language in the year map
• Year 1 / Year 2 maths - year maps where location language appears
• Homework without tears - calm short sessions when worksheets stack up
• Maths anxiety in children / behind in maths? - when nights feel tense or "behind" worries grow
• Maths help hub - more parent maths guides

A useful parent-teacher question: "Which position words (beside, between, left, right, path) should we practise at home this term?"

FAQ

When do children learn position and location at school?

Everyday words like on, under, beside and in front often start in Prep. Left/right, between, near/far and simple map or path talk strengthen across Years 1–2. Ask which wording your child's class uses.

What is the difference between position and ordinal numbers?

Position = where relative to something else (beside, on the left). Ordinals = place in an ordered line as number language (first, second, third). Same toys; different questions - see ordinal numbers.

Do we need angles or shape names now?

Not for position homework. Turns sit on angles. Shape names stay on 2D shapes - maps only use simple place markers.

How do we practise left and right without tears?

Face the same way as your child. Name their left hand first, then objects on that side. Keep sessions tiny.

A calm next step

When beside/between and left-right talk feels clear (and a few simple path games stick without tears) and you want a wider number-and-space snapshot at home, Ziado's free check is a one-off, roughly 10-minute adaptive diagnostic with partial results only - no account and no card. The full placement unlocks after signup. It is not NAPLAN practice and it is not the full product; Ziado's ongoing path is adaptive maths (Foundation–Year 6) plus phonics reading (Foundation–Year 4). Explore Ziado maths if you want practice that can meet location and number skills at the right step. Individual and Family plans, if you continue later, start with a 14-day free trial of the full app — see pricing for current plans.

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