Cutting Lines; Preschool Scissor Practice

Scissor skills are often something we as parents neglect to practice in our kids’ activities at home. I am here to calm your cutting nerves and share ideas like cutting lines at home for our toddlers (gasp!) and preschooler activities.

Don’t be fooled by a few lines on paper. Cutting lines is a fantastic way to build hand strength and improve hand-eye coordination. 

We want our children to walk into Kindergarten like a boss with cutting confidence. So, let’s get cutting!

RELATED: Ready for more? Here are 25+ Cutting Activities for Preschoolers.

Table of Contents:

1. Supplies
2. How to Set Up Cutting Lines
3. What’s the Scoop on Using Scissors? 
4. Try Out This Cutting Practice Breakfast Invitation
5. You Will Also Enjoy These Scissor Activities
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. How to Set Up Cutting Lines (PRINT HERE!)

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Supplies

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How to Set Up Cutting Lines

Step 1. Tape down your white paper.

This acts as a border for the cutting practice and keeps the activity looking a little more “organized.” It will help keep your preschoolers focused. You can use the paper again for one of these Breakfast Invitations listed here.

Step 2. Draw a variety of lines on your paper or cardstock. 

Squiggles, shapes, and zigzags work best. Keep some lines full and others dashed to give your child a variety of challenges. Keep in mind different ages and different abilities. 

Step 3. Set it up the night before.

Place the cards and scissors out the night before and allow your preschoolers to come down and begin cutting as you make breakfast.

Step 4. Give your child tips on using scissors.

Draw a smile on the thumb to remind your child to keep it looking up. 

My 2.5-year-old on the left is just cutting. He is strengthening his fine motor muscles and becoming comfortable with how the scissors feel in his hands. I am less concerned with him staying on the lines because it is AGE APPROPRIATE for him to deviate.

Now, look at my four-year-old on the right. He is more engaged and more accurate with remaining on the lines. Remember, the best way to improve scissor skills is over time and with practice.

What’s the Scoop on Using Scissors? 

Fine motor skills practice helps:

• Control small muscles in your toddler’s hands – Using scissors strengthens the muscles in those little hands.
• Coordinates eye-hand movement – Cutting along lines takes coordination! This is an excellent skill for writing, tying laces, and zipping up coats!
• Fine motor practice – Think of small hand movements and grip as essential life skills. It is age-appropriate and sets the stage for what’s to come in elementary school.
• Prepares small hands for future pencil grip – Your child will need a great pencil grip when they start learning how to write.
• Recognizing that letters have lines and curves – Did you know that lines and curves are some of the first stages of writing? Practicing now will help with bigger movements later, such as writing stories.

Want to learn more about the sequence of prewriting? This prewriting post by Growing Hands on Kids has a helpful prewriting chart to share stages and ages of writing development.

RELATED: Be sure to check out these 50+ fine motor activities! 

Try Out This Cutting Practice Breakfast Invitation

Cutting lines is a fantastic Breakfast Invitation activity loaded with goodies that encourages the key skill of fine motor development while providing tonnes of fun!

You Will Also Enjoy These Scissor Activities:

• Cut the Playdough
• Cutting Spaghetti 
• Tape Cut and Rescue

Frequently Asked Questions