How to teach your child use scissors?
Sooner or later, there comes a time when a child needs to be taught how to use scissors. In this article, we will tell you at what age it is best to introduce your favorite child to this subject, as well as consider the first exercises that are best to offer the baby to get acquainted with scissors
The use of scissors requires special skills from the child. For a baby, it can be very difficult to cut something, because it has to use all the fingers of the hand not synchronously (the thumb, index and middle fingers-each performs its own work).
What age is suitable to try?
The smaller the child's hand is, the more difficult it is to use scissors. However, many children are ready to learn how to make cuts on paper from the age of 2-3. And only by the age of 6, the skill of using scissors will not require any tension from the child – everything will happen "automatically".
If Your child is interested in scissors, trying to cut a picture yourself, you can try to teach him. How can I do that?
Step 1. Buy good quality baby scissors
You can find scissors of almost any size, so try to choose those that will fit well in the child's hand. Good children's scissors, on the one hand, should be sharpened well enough (so that it is easy for the child to cut) – blunt scissors tear the paper, and do not cut it. On the other hand, children's scissors must have rounded tips, so that the baby does not prick and injure someone else. If your child is left-handed, you should try to find scissors created specifically for left-handed children (using ordinary scissors, holding them in the left hand, children do not see the cut line).
Step 2. Discuss the rules for using scissors with your child
First, tell your child that the scissors can only be used for cutting paper (you can not cut clothes, tablecloths, crayons, fingers, hair, etc.). If the child was caught trying to cut off the cat's mustache, take away the scissors. Do not give them away until the child says that he is ready to use the scissors for their intended purpose.
Second, tell him that you can't walk, run, or jump with scissors. Show how to correctly pass the scissors to your friend (handles forward).
How to teach your child to cut with scissors?
Before you give your baby scissors, play funny games with him that will help improve hand-eye coordination, as well as make the baby's fingers stronger.
To develop the ability to use both hands (to coordinate the movements of both hands), give the task to tear a piece of paper into very small pieces. These pieces can be glued to paper (if you tear the white paper and glue the pieces to the blue one - this is a snowball, if you tear the brown paper, and then glue it to the silhouette of a bird – these are feathers for a freezing Sparrow).
Let the baby try to make holes in the paper with a hole punch (under Your supervision, of course) – this will make his hands stronger.
Fill the rubber toy with water. And let the baby squeeze out all the water – this activity will also help make the fingers stronger.
How to hold scissors correctly?
1. Let the baby hold the handle so that the thumb looks up. Put one of the scissors rings on your finger.
2. Let the baby push the tip of the middle finger into another ring.
3. Place the child's index finger on the second ring (outside).
4. the Ring finger and little finger should be bent (rest on the palm). Sometimes the ring finger is inserted into the second ring along with the index finger.
5. Place a piece of paper in front of the child (above eye level). When the child cuts the paper in the upward direction, it automatically picks up the scissors correctly.
Next, show your child how you cut the paper into strips, cut out circles and triangles. Be patient, support the child, even when he does not manage to make an incision.
We really hope that this article was helpful for you and your child. Thank you for your attention. To practice the use of scissors with your child check out our latest ideas with crafts.