Kids grow up so fast. Keeping track of exactly how fast can be a fun activity for youngsters (even if it makes mom and dad shed a tear every now and then).
Remember standing with your back and heels to the wall, stretching up as tall as possible, trying not to bounce up and down while someone drew a line above your head to indicate height? Even if you had grown only a quarter-inch, it was cause for celebration.
Marks on a wall or notches in a door frame are a fine way to track growth, but in our mobile society it presents a problem: When it’s time to pack up and move, it’s hard to take that record along.
Many art companies and DIYers make growth charts that serve as a permanent record of a child’s changes in height. One is WallStar Graphics, a Eugene-based company that creates decorative vinyl decals.
WallStar’s Ruler Growth Chart, which costs $30 plus shipping, is made to scale and measures 60 inches tall. Installed one foot off the floor, it shows a child’s height up to 6 feet — at which point he or she likely will outgrow the exercise anyway. The growth chart decal is easy to install; just peel away the paper backing and affix.
Permanent markers work great for recording a child’s height on the vinyl decal, says Paula Franklin, WallStar’s president. If you have multiple children, try writing in their names or using different-colored markers.
Removing the decal will not leave any residue on the wall, Franklin says. But it cannot be reapplied if a child switches rooms or the whole family moves. However, it can be saved as a memento.
Decals come in a range of shades, including black, white, turquoise, hot pink and lime green. The company also does custom work (www.wallstargraphics.com).
Duck fans take note, too: WallStar recently started offering officially licensed University of Oregon decals that are ideal for sports fans young and old.
