When I was teaching Kindergarten, I was often surprised at how many children came to school never having held a pair of scissors before. I get it, why would you hand your 4-year-old a sharp pair of scissors and expect them not to cut themselves or someone else? It can be stressful to teach!
How Do I Introduce Scissors Safely?!
What if I told you that there was a way to introduce this skill to your toddler (as young as 2!) while taking the safety concern out of it? Well, there is!
Introduce…the safety scissors! These brilliant shears can cut through paper without the risk of your kiddo cutting themselves. They are not as sharp as a normal pair, so cutting can be more difficult. However, safety scissors are a great way to introduce holding scissors properly and cutting appropriately.
So, what is the best way to introduce safety scissors to your toddler or preschooler? As with most new skills, they will need your assistance to figure it out.
Demonstrate how to hold and use the scissors and then let your little have a go at holding them. It will probably take some adjusting on your part to get them in the right position. Don’t give up; you’ll get there!
Once your cutie has the hang of holding the scissors, have them practice opening and closing them. I always tell my kiddos that the pair of scissors is a crocodile chomping on the paper. So, when we close the scissors, I make sure to say ‘Chomp!’ each time. That helps them grasp the concept of opening and closing in a fun way!
And, let me tell you a little secret. The safety scissors have this awesome piece that flips down in between the two finger holes (It is yellow in the scissors pictured below) and gives it spring action! That way, your little has to work those fingers to close the scissors, but they spring back open automatically. That makes it a little safer for your kiddo to use, and a lot less likely that something, like a finger, will get caught between the blades. I love this feature!
Now that your little can safely use the scissors, let’s put them to use.
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Materials:
- Safety Scissors
- Construction Paper
- Bin (any container will do!)
Looking for a framework to get your kiddo ready for Kindergarten? Look no further!
How To:
- Cut or rip the construction paper into strips (however big you’d like) and place them in the bin.
- Add the scissors, and let your kiddo get busy cutting!
You do not have to cut the construction paper, but I find that strips are a bit easier for their little fingers to manage than an entire sheet of paper.
Most kids love to do adult things. At this age, cutting is an adult activity. So, it’s a treat for kids this young to get to hold scissors and create their own masterpiece.
Be sure to use adult supervision with this activity! I’m not saying that you have to hold your littles’ hand the entire time or hover over them. Just, watch them while they are holding scissors. You know your little best, so only you can decide what is most appropriate here.
Honestly, I still don’t let my 7-year-old use scissors unless I’m in the room. It is more so because I have 3 other kids who may get a hold of the scissors if they are left out. But I don’t think a child should be using scissors (or other sharp objects) without some form of supervision until you are comfortable with them keeping a pair in their room. Just my opinion!
Enjoy!
This activity introduces a great foundational skill that your child will use throughout the rest of their life. It’s a quick set up and something that you can come back to again and again. Keep it in a lidden container for easy storage and use.
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Now that your kiddo has an introduction to scissors, try this activity with them!
