Snip Snip Snip
There are a lot of ways to introduce scissor skills to this age group. Most of the time we start with Play-Doh. It’s easier for the children to manipulate than paper.
What we probably don’t think about is that when we use scissors it’s not only fine motor but bilateral coordination. The children use both hands. They use one hand to hold the scissors in the other hand to hold a paper. If the hands are not working together it becomes a problem.
There are a lot of activities that help children learn the motion that it takes to cut with scissors. Using salad tongs, using bug catchers, using spray bottles and clothes pin activities all help your fine motor muscles get used to the action of using scissors
Some of the rules we have for scissors are you is you only use them in a designated area at the table. You only cut approved materials. You have to stay in your chair while cutting, and when you’re carrying the scissors back to its home you walk and hold the blade down.
You might see a little smiley face on your child’s thumb today. That reminds them that the thumb goes on top
Also know that I let the children CHOOSE which hand they wanted to cut with. In early childhood when presenting any type of fine motor materials we offer the tool in the midline and let the child choose which hand will be dominate. If we see a child consistently preferring one side or the other we can begin to help them practice on that side. I saw a lot of lefties today.
Who knew that scissor cutting could be so complicated ?