How to Make a Growth Ruler

Measuring a child's height is often a fun activity for both children and parents.

From the littlest child to the oldest teen in the family, measuring growth of children through the years is a decorative and interesting exercise. Creating your own growth ruler to hang in the family home is a fun exercise that can be done with all members. Making the ruler, rather than purchasing it, is an economical and fun exercise, and also allows it to be personalized in colors, drawings and other items.

Things You'll Need

• Wide wood plank, 6-foot high, 1-inch thick by 4-inch wide
• Tape measure
• Masking tape
• Black marker
• Ruler
• Acrylic paint, in desired colors
• Small paintbrush

Instructions

1. Place the wood flat on your work surface. Run the tape measure along it from top to bottom and secure it firmly using masking tape. This will be the reference for creating the measurement lines.

2. Mark every inch with the black marker, about 1/2 inch long, with every foot marked with a 1-inch long line.

3. Draw a number in pencil beside every long line that indicates one foot, beginning at one from the bottom and ending at five before the top. Color in the drawn numerals with the black pen.

4. Spray the clear acrylic finish over the entire board for a rough and chic look. If desiring a color that better suits surrounding decor, paint a wash of acrylic paint over it instead -- place the tape measure back over the top of it, after the paint has dried, in order to redraw the measurement markings.

5. Paint small illustrations, such as favorite animals or plants, on the board, or have your child paint them every time she is measured as a fun visual guide of her growing.

Tips & Warnings

• Place the measuring stick on the inside of a doorway.

References

• Tip Junkie: How to Make a Ruler Growth Chart
• How Does She?: Wood Growth Chart