Snip, Shape and Create:
Cutting with Scissors
Cutting skills are important for young children as they grow. From birth to age two, babies learn to grab and hold things. This helps them get ready to use scissors later. Babies play with toys and shake rattles to make their hand muscles strong.
When children are toddlers, around ages two to three, they start trying to move their hands in new ways. This helps them learn how to use scissors. Toddlers might use safety scissors to cut paper or play dough. Parents can help by letting toddlers
practice cutting different items such as grass cuttings, tape, paper plates, flyers/magazines, or ribbon. This practice improves ability and confidence. The Canadian Paediatric Society says that these activities help children grow and learn (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2023).
By preschool, ages four to six, children get better at cutting. They can cut shapes from paper or make crafts, which helps them think and solve problems. To build the muscles needed for cutting, try fun activities like:
1) making creationswith play dough,
2) finger painting,
3) stringing beads,
4) scissor practice,
5) putting puzzles together,
6) lacing cards,
7) playing with stickers,
8) building blocks,
9) sorting items like buttons, and
10) moving water with a spoon.
Keep all these activities fun and engaging by following your child’s interest. For example, if your child loves dinosaurs you can:
1) make dinosaurs from play dough,
2) finger paint dinosaurs,
3) shape pipe cleaners into dinosaurs and string beads on the form,
4) scissor practice: cut large, simple dinosaur outlines from paper,
5) put dinosaur puzzles together,
6) use lacing cards in the shape of a dinosaur made from old cardboard cut in the shape of a dinosaur,
7) play with dinosaur stickers,
8) use building blocks to create a home for dinosaurs,
9) sorting items like small dinosaurs by colour, size, and other categories,
10) moving water with a spoon to feed a toy dinosaur.
Happy Cutting!
