Getting started with measuring doesn't need to be formal, it just needs to be consistent. Few people run around town with a ruler in their pocket or keep other measuring tools on hand, after all. So let's use the tools we have on-hand to get the job done!

Let's call these measurement tools 'natural measures.' Natural measures are any item of consistent length you can use to compare one thing to another. For example, if the leg of your chair has broken and you want to repair it, comparing the length of the leg to your hand, foot, or a soda bottle will all help you obtain the information you'll need at the hardware store. That's because these measure tools are of consistent, unchanging lengths and, most importantly, are immediately available.

This is a good bit of knowledge to impart on young children, as well. Given a series of objects around the house - such as some books, the kitchen table, or a collection of pencils - they can use a natural measurement tool to determine their length. If the item they're measuring is too long for a single measurement to be taken, let them mark as they go! For example, if your child wants to use a feather to measure the kitchen table, have them start from one end of the table and make a mark where the feather ends. Then move the feather to the mark and repeat the process until they've obtained a measure of the whole item. You may want to use easily-removeable things as marks, such as rice or dry-erase marker.

These methods of natural measures and mark-as-you-go will build up some hand-eye coordination in your child, as well as other useful thinking skills.