How to Teach Preschoolers Scissor Skills

Learning how to use scissors is an essential skill that every child should learn as it not only helps them in their academic journey but also enhances their overall development. The ability to use scissors correctly is a critical fine motor skill that strengthens hand muscles, improves hand-eye coordination, and helps children to build their self-esteem. As a result, teaching children to use scissors is an important milestone in their early childhood education, and it’s crucial to make this learning experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Teaching preschoolers the basics of scissor skills can be an easy and fun activity for both kids and parents! With a few simple steps, you’ll have your little ones confidently cutting shapes in no time.

Introduce Them to the Scissors.

It’s important to start slowly and introduce your preschooler to the scissors. Show them the proper way to hold the scissors, and how to open and close them. Explain that fingers go in the holes on either side for better control. Once they are comfortable with holding the scissors, you can move on to cutting other things like play dough, cooked spaghetti noodles, or slime! Then they will be ready for you to introduce cutting paper. You can make a scissor salad by giving them squares of green construction paper and letting them snip away over a salad bowl.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to help preschoolers master scissor skills is by providing them with appropriate cutting activities. This is where the product Cutting Activities for Preschoolers comes in. This product is an excellent resource for parents, caregivers, and teachers who want to help young children learn how to use scissors effectively.

De-Stress scissor time in your classroom.

A cutting activity doesn’t have to be stressful! I learned my lesson this year when we tried to make this cute reindeer craft like the teacher across the hall. My little learners were stressed, cutting the poor reindeer into pieces, and having a hard time turning the paper to cut all of the excess paper away. That is when I came up with my super scissor-cutting packet. I realized I had not properly taught my students in a way that they could be successful. One little girl went home and said “I don’t like cutting, I am not good at it!”. I am sorry and thank you sweet girl for inspiring me to do better! So now I am here to help you successfully teach your children how to use scissors.

Tips to be successful in the classroom

Teaching preschoolers how to use scissors can be a fun and exciting experience. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Start with safety first. Make sure the scissors you provide are specifically designed for young children and have rounded tips to prevent accidental injuries. Explain to the preschoolers that scissors are not toys and should only be used under adult supervision. My super scissor packet comes with a promise page that each child will only cut paper. They each snip a line on the page and I hang it up as a reminder to only cut paper! In the past, I always did a pinky promise. I have not had a piece of hair clipped in 20 years knock on wood.
• Demonstrate how to use the scissors. Hold the scissors correctly and demonstrate the cutting motion for the preschoolers. Show them how to hold the paper with their non-dominant hand and cut with their dominant hand. I have also included a poem to help them remember how to hold the scissors.
• Encourage the use of both hands. Encourage the preschoolers to use both hands when cutting to help build hand-eye coordination and dexterity. In the first lesson in the super scissor packet, there are finger marks to show how to guide the paper with the non-cutting hand. (And being a lefty myself, I included a lefty piece as well.)

• Practice, practice, practice! Give the preschoolers opportunities to practice cutting with scissors on different materials such as paper, cardboard, and aluminum foil. (Added benefit the foil sharpens the scissors as well).
• Make it fun! Turn the activity into a craft project to keep the preschoolers engaged and excited about using the scissors. I have also included a take-home packet that when returned completed you can hand out super scissor certificates. You can also incorporate songs or stories to make the activity more enjoyable.

In Conclusion

Teaching scissor skills to preschoolers is an essential part of their development. Scissor skills help develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity. By following these tips and engaging in fun scissor activities, you can help your preschooler develop these important skills. Remember to be patient and encouraging as preschoolers learn how to use scissors. With time and practice, they will develop the skills they need to become confident and independent users.

If you would like to read more about my teaching methods check out my Bible ABC lessons here.

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