Looking for more cutting activities for preschoolers? Let’s get started!

Cutting activities for preschoolers just got a lot more fun with these clever ideas.

I know handing over the scissors can be a nerve-racking task. I am here to help bridge the gap to ensure the cutting practice is a little more seamless to introduce.

RELATED: Looking for ideas without searching the web? You will love our activity cards!

Why practice using scissors at home?

Cutting is an essential skill that all children get better with practice. If we help our children cut and play at home, they enter school with the confidence to take on higher-level tasks. 

RELATED: What do scissor skills have to do with pencil grip? Don’t miss this article on fine motor strength. 

How do you teach your preschooler scissor skills?

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1. Find blunt-edged kid scissors for your child to practice with. We use these scissors here. 
2. Show your child the scissors and explain what the scissors are used for. “These are scissors. We use scissors to cut paper like this. Would you like to try?”
3. Hand the scissors to your child. If willing, help position the hands. If not willing, try to continue keeping kid scissors available for more practice. You will see improvements with grip over time. 
4. If your child needs help with holding the scissors, place a smiley face on the thumbnail (pictured below) to encourage the thumb to stay up when cutting.
5. Show your child how to walk with scissors and where to put the scissors away after cutting. We like to keep ours in the art cart.
6. Allow scissors to be accessible. You can set limits or boundaries when using the scissors, but I have found making child-friendly scissors part of the normal routine helps with cutting curiosity. 
7. After practicing cutting paper, begin to introduce some of these other ideas listed below.

Supply for all activities: SCISSORS

RELATED: We keep our preschool activities simple. Visit our supply list here. 

Notice the smiley face on the thumb? This is a great visual for little learners where to place their thumb while cutting. You can also mark the thumb with a sticker or nail polish. 

Cutting activities for preschoolers are doable! Let’s start here.

Tape Cut and Rescue – Days with Grey

Spaghetti Cut – Days with Grey

“Painting” with Scissors – Playground Parkbench

Cut to the Stars Printable – Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

Make a Paper Salad: – Mosswood Connections

Name Puzzles -How Wee Learn

Cut the Spider – LalyMom

Cut the Flowers – Days with Grey

Cutting and Threading Practice with Straws – Powerful Mothering

Cutting Tray – Mama Papa Bubba

Leaf Cutting – Hands On As We Grow

Playdough Scissor Cut – Mama Papa Bubba

Cut the Lines – Days with Grey

Jello Cut – Nature Store

Lavender Cutting for Preschoolers – Teach me Mommy

Lion Puppet Cutting Craft – Toddler Approved

Guess the Shapes – Artsy Mama

Cutting the Grass – Simple Fun for Kids VIP

9 Haircuts to Practice Scissor Skills

*Pictures are in order of the posts listed below from left to right, top to bottom.

Grass Hair Salon – Toddler Approved

Baby Doll Haircuts – Happy Toddler Playtime

Cardboard Abominable Yeti Scissor Cutting – Hello Wonderful

Super Hero Grass Pots – Non-Toy Gifts

Vampire Haircut – Non-Toy Gifts

Construction Paper Hair Trim – Moms and Crafters

Turkey Haircut – Busy Toddler

Leprechaun Haircut – Non-Toy Gifts

Sheer the Sheep – School Time Snippets

When will you begin these clever cutting activities with your kids?