Teaching Your Preschooler to use Scissors

Knowing how to properly use scissors is an important skill that many children learn by 3 or 4 years old. It takes patience and practice, but once the skill is achieved, your child will have a great feeling of independence and accomplishment. Scissor use helps improve eye-hand coordination and strengthens the muscles in the child’s hands, ultimately helping your child master other small-motor activities as well.

The first step to teaching scissors skills is to get the proper kind of scissors. Look for scissors with a blunt tip, preferably designed for left- or right-handed children (depending on which your child is) so your child can decide which way works best.

Help your child put their correct fingers in the proper holes. This will make the scissors more comfortable and ensure that cutting is more successful. Have your child practice opening and closing the scissors with no paper. Scissors with spring action are available, which may make the task of cutting a bit easier in the beginning by helping the child’s hand make the correct motions.

Start by showing your child how to cut paper, explaining the process. Then let your child copy you by cutting strips of play dough. Play dough is easy to cut so your child is almost guaranteed success.

Once play dough is mastered, move on to strips of paper. Then draw thick lines on a sheet of paper for your child to follow with the scissors. Remember, you aren’t looking for perfection. You are helping your child practice a skill, and that skill will continue to improve.

After your child is comfortable cutting lines, draw simple shapes to cut out. Collect some old magazines and allow your child to cut out pictures that are especially appealing. Help glue the pictures onto a sheet of paper or cardboard and display the creation. As cutting skills grow, so will your child’s self-confidence.

While you teach cutting skills, you should also emphasize safety. Scissors should only be used when sitting and only used on things you allow. Teach your child how to hold the scissors pointing down when walking and to never poke someone with scissors.

Sources:

• New Creations Preschool
• Tips on How to teach Your Child to Cut with Scissors.
  North Shore Pediatric Therapy
• How to teach Your Preschooler to Cut with Scissors.

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