Why is measurement important in early math?

Measurement skills help us describe the world around us in accurate, standard ways that others can understand. Before they learn to measure with standard units, like inches on a ruler, young children are already notificing differences in sizes, distances, temperatures, and more. You can help children understand different measurements by introducing attribute vocabulary. Encourage children to describe people, objects, or places as tall, short, big, small, warm, cool, far, close, and more. As children develop their measurement skills, they'll be able to compare ("taller than me") and eventually use standard units of measurement ("this weighs nine pounds").