Understanding Measurement: A Guide for Parents
What is measurement?
Measurement is the act of comparing objects, and liquids to a standard quantity. It may include determining the lengths, width, height, weight, consistency, volume, temperature of an object. It can also include the passing of time from night to day, from seconds to minutes to hours to days, to week, to months, to years.
Common errors children encounter while learning measurement?
Some common errors may arise from lack of precision leading to inaccurate measurements, misjudging distance and size, not using consistent measuring units. These can be overcome, by encouraging your child to slow down when counting or measuring and through repetition of activities.
What is the benefit of learning measurement?
Measurement helps children learn new mathematical concepts, and helps them build a better understanding of the world and develop abstract thinking. This helps develop an understanding of height, weight, length, time and money while enhancing cognitive development through spatial awareness, logical thinking and reasoning.
How to teach your child at home?
When teaching measurement to children, it is best to start with non formal units of measurements, such as using pencils to measure the length of a desk. You can ask How many pencils are in the table?
Another useful exercise at home is to compare sizes of various toys, and eventually size differences between your child and their toys, child and siblings if applicable, and the child and yourself. For example, try asking who is bigger in size, you or your teddy?
Once the child begins showing an understanding of measurement, introduce formal measurement such as cm, kg, ml.
Units of Measurement include:
| Physical Quantity | Unit of Measurement | Symbol |
| Time | Minutes | mins |
| Mass | Kilograms (kilos) | kg |
| Length | Centimeters | cm |
| Volume/Capacity | Litres | L |
| Temperature | Celsius | ℃ |