Teaching Your Kiddies to Use Scissors

Teaching a child how to use scissors is an exciting time in their life.

I recommend this to start around the age of 3 before or during their Kindergarten life.

Xander is now 3, and starting kindergarten next year.

Xander has had issues with the strength in his hands, so I thought it may be time to start to learn how to use scissors. He was very excited to start this!

When teaching, it is important to teach a child proper grip of scissors.

As they become more confident with using them, you will notice that their grip will further progress.

Just remember. It's the thumb in the top hole, and pointer and middle finger in the bottom.

They may struggle with the grip at first, so the gentle aid of holding their wrist up so they can concentrate better on their grip may work for you as it did with myself with Xander.

If your child is like Xander, he is only just learning to co-ordinate the use of both hands at once. So learning to use scissors is great in aiding this, as he will have to use one hand to steady the paper, and one to use the scissors.

Basically all I have done is used an old bill from my electricity company, that isn't double sided print. Drawn lines up the back for Xander to cut along. They don't have to be perfect either. Just a line.

Just make sure you identify if your child is left or right handed.

Xander is a bit of both. He will write and cut with his right hand but eat and play with his left.

So since the scissors will be in the right hand, and the paper will be held in the left hand, I have distanced the lines across from the left hand side to prevent him from cutting himself. No cuts will = confidence!

I hope my little tips have helped you in teaching your child how to write.

But one thing to remember is that your child will be comfortable with however they decide to cut. Don't push a "perfect" grip, but correct them when you feel it's necessary.