Measuring is an integral part of daily life. Whether it’s knowing how many ounces in a cup or if that new rug will fit in the living room or how many servings your bag of dog food holds when you use the bigger scoop, measuring is a valuable skill.

For kids, the concept can seem abstract and confusing, particularly when dealing with the different units of measure. One way to establish a foundation for measurement is to make it an activity at home. Have your child find all the objects in the house that you use to measure: a ruler, measuring cups, tape measure, yardstick, etc. Make sure they also gather the non-standard objects: the laundry detergent scoop or the bowl you use to dish out the dog food.

Once they have collected all the objects, explore each one. Sort them into categories – measuring distance, measuring liquids, etc. Discuss why you wouldn’t want to use the ruler to get the right amount of sugar for the cookies you’re baking, or why the laundry scoop wouldn’t be best to find out how tall you are. Making sure your child is exposed to measurement regularly can help them understand its uses in daily life.