Both making and reading a tape measure chart can be fairly easy. If a person wants to make a chart to chronicle the growth of his child, he can make his own chart using materials that he can probably find around the house. Using a piece of felt that measures about five feet long, he can glue a tape measure to it, and then the project will be basically complete. To read the chart, have a child
. stand up against it, with his head straight. Make a mark or place a finger even with the top of his head. These charts usually measure inches, so the measurer should take the amount and divide by 12 to arrive at the child's height in feet and inches. Reading a tape measure is easy and fast. Many tape measures mark feet as well as inches, and the inches are broken down into fractions of inches for more precise measurements. One can use something simple such as a paper or plastic tape measure, the kind one often sees in sewing kits. He could also use a sturdier, metal one that retracts for more ease of use.The creation of such a tape measure chart can actually turn into a family project. One can get the whole family in on the chart by having them decorate it. In that way, the chart can incorporate personalization from all family members. One can use a very wide piece of felt and attach to it tape measures representing each child. Grandparents might like this idea so that they can share in the children's growth. Each time the children visit, grandparents can measure the height of the grandchildren to see how much they have grown since the last visit. For information on how to read a tape measure, one can find online resources. More reference links: http://daveosborne.com/dave/articles/how-to-read-a-tape-measure.php http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-read-a-tape-measure.htm