Measuring Things With Your Hands

Paper and pencil for recording measurements

Objects around the house to measure (no special items needed)

Show how to place a hand flat at one end of a book and move it end-over-end to measure.

Count each placement: "One hand... two hands... three hands! The book is three hands long!"

Measure bigger things: table width, chair height, rug length.

Record results: "The table is eight hands wide!" Write it down or draw it.

Measure the same objects with your adult hand. "I get five, you got eight. Why?"

Try feet, fingers, or arm lengths instead. Compare results.

Chart 5 objects and put them in order — shortest to longest.

Remind your child to place hands end-to-end with no gaps. Consistent units matter, even non-standard ones.

The comparison between adult and child measurements is the most valuable part. Don't skip it.

Try measuring the same object with different units: "The couch is 12 hands long, or 4 feet long, or 2 arm-lengths." Same object, different numbers — fascinating.

For an outdoor version, measure garden beds, sidewalk squares, or trees.

Graduate to a ruler or tape measure once non-standard measurement clicks. "Your hand is about 4 inches wide!"