The extended development of mapping spatial demonstratives onto space

•Spatial demonstratives (this, that) do not only indicate object distance from speaker but reflect meaningful conceptual distinctions.•Object characteristics (e.g. ownership) are at least as important as distance for demonstrative production throughout development.•The use of demonstratives is not mature until after the age of seven.•Children carve up space in the same fashion as adults, as revealed by a memory-for-locations task.