Measuring Activities for PreSchoolers

The concept of measuring distances in feet, or inches is a difficult one to grasp, but one your child will have to begin to learn soon.

Begin by using measuring scales that she understands – let her use steps or strides to measure the distance to the door, from the door to the car etc.

Count how many steps it takes to cover each length of distance.

Let her use arm lengths to cover the same distances. Let her compare the number of strides with the number of arm lengths taken to cover the same distance. This is also great practice for counting lessons.

Give her a dressmaker’s tape and begin measuring things –

• Her shoes
• Distances from her bed to the door
• The tiles on the floor
• The length of the carpet
• The hands of the sofa chair
• The car

Stick to a certain unit of measurement to avoid confusing her – only inches in the beginning, for instance.

Measurements –adding them, breaking them down – will be part of her studies soon enough, and this helps her to learn the basics.

Weighing Activity for PreSchoolers

Use your kitchen weighing scale for this measuring activity. Create a worksheet and make columns for the name of the item you’re measuring and the weight. Let her fill this on her own as she’s done with each weighing activity.

Give her a cup of rice, and show her how to weigh it.

Compare the weight of the cup of rice with other items – let her measure a cup of beans or lentils, or short grain rice, and compare the weights.

Give her a bag of rice, and ask her to fill another bowl using a small measuring cup. Let her count how many cups it takes to fill the bowl.

Break down this activity as you go along. How many spoons of rice does it take to fill a cup?

What She Learns

These activities help develop an understanding of weights and distance. Plus, there’s lots of counting involved which helps boost math skills. Noting down measurements on a worksheet on her own gives her a sense of accomplishment, of doing something on her own, and doing something right – always a self esteem booster.

Have fun, and keep smiling!