The best activity for cutting practice is this idea right here!
No joke, this scissor practice is on repeat with my toddler and preschooler.
Let’s skip the dull printouts and get straight to business with this epic cutting activity for kids. Simple to set up and guaranteed to be a success!
RELATED: Want activities such as this that you can have access to at home? You will love our activity cards!
What age do I introduce scissors to my children?
I introduce blunt-edged scissors around 2.5. I explain how to hold them and how to walk with them.
After my children have a simple foundation, they can use scissors at any time.
This may not be ideal for you, and that is okay, Use your best judgment when to use and how to store scissors.
In our house, the boys have access to scissors that are in the art cart.
You may prefer to keep the scissors in place your child needs to ask first.
Again, in your home, do what works best for your family. We like to keep our supply list for activities to everyday items that the children can use freely.
The vital part of the cutting practice is that children have opportunities to become confident and comfortable using them.
RELATED: Looking for the best activities for toddlers? Here you go!
Let’s talk about toddler and preschooler cutting skills.
Learning to cut and how to hold scissors properly develops over time.
As caregivers, we need to be patient as this evolves.
To help with scissor grip, try drawing a smile with a sharpie on the thumbnail.
Remind your child to keep the smile up. If your child doesn’t want your help, that’s also normal. -It can happen to the best of us. (myself included!) Just like attempting art with a toddler, scissor practice gets better over time.
Just remember to offer opportunities to practice cutting such as:
RELATED: Curious how cutting relates to pencil grip? Read all about the stages of fine motor development HERE.
For this cutting activity, I wanted to add in some imaginary play.
I told my toddler and preschooler that the bears were captured, and they needed his help!
Small prompts such as this can go a long way!
Creating a fictional story will also engage conversation, build vocabulary, and inspire creativity. – Yes, please!
Grasping the small bears will help your child strengthen the small hand muscles used to play with clay, weave, and grasp with tongs!
Setting up is simple!
Add one bear in each section of the muffin tin.
Put painter’s tape in each direction to close them in.
Place scissors to the left of the cutting activity and invited my toddler and preschooler to get to work.
Supplies:
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This cutting practice game is such a hit for so many!
RELATED: Toddler toys are best kept open-ended and used for years. I made this list of toddler toys to help build you collection at home.
When will you set up Trap, Cut, & Rescue in your home?
Oh my goodness… this has become a hit with my 4 year old. I made up a role play around it that some of her toys had been stolen and only she could rescue them. I told her they couldn’t be touched with her fingers but gave her a basket of ‘tools’ (scissors and big tweezers) that ‘might come in useful’. She jumped into the role play as we raced down the garden to find them. At one point she fixed me with a steely gaze: “Did you put these toys in here, Mum?” “Um… yes…”, “Let’s just pretend you didn’t”? She’s asked to play the game everyday so far. Thank you.xx