Thursday, October 17, 2013

Teaching Cutting To Preschoolers!

One of our directors sent us a link the other day and I was so excited about the info I had to pass it along.  Often we are fearful to start letting preschoolers use scissors due to hair cutting incidents and other scissor related horror stories.  So when I read this over I thought THIS IS FANTASTIC information.  Remember as long as they are supervised while using you can avoid the no bang or mullet look.  (My daughter when preschool age searched out scissors gave herself a mullet twice and cut all her barbies hair. . .so I understand the fear).  Hope you find the info useful! 

Here are some tips that help children learn to cut and use scissors

·        Before starting with scissors, remember to practice pre-cutting activities to build hand-eye coordination and hand muscle strength.

·        Pre-cutting activities include playing with large plastic tweezers and trying to pick up objects like cotton balls with them.

·        Another pre-cutting activity is to use a turkey baster or a small plastic syringe and transferring water from container to container.

·        The key is to make these activities fun and to continue doing them, even after your child starts using scissors.

·        Make learning complete:  have your child help find and prepare your cutting and pre-cutting activity supplies.  Ensure they help clean them up too.

·        Teach your child that it is safety first when using scissors. Ensure the scissors fit your child’s hand. And holding scissors properly is very important.

·        Set your child up for success once you progress to holding and cutting with scissors by teaching snips first.  What you snip, be it paper, straws or string can be used as part of a larger game, activity or art project to help make practice fun.


·        Progress slowly.  Practice a lot.  Always have fun.  Ensure your child does the “work” because children learn by doing.  You can tell your child, you can show your child, but if your child does something with you, they will remember it!

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