How to Teach Your Child to Use Scissors

Teaching a child how to appropriately use scissors can start at the age of three years. You can teach your child the different types of things they can cut, how to care for them and the different uses of scissors. I have come up with some fun activities you can do to teach your child about how to use scissors.

Reading books is a wonderful way to introduce your child to scissors. You can talk about the parts of the scissors such as the handle and the blade. You can talk about what kinds of things scissors will cut such as paper, toenail and cloth. You can talk about how to care for scissors such as cleaning and storing them when not in use. Some books I would recommend that would generate a good discussion about scissors is The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Anderson, Jeremy's First Haircut by Linda Girard and The Shoemaker and the Elves by Brothers Grimm. You can check these books out at your local library.

Use arts and crafts to teach your child how to use scissors. A good art activity to start with is play dough and scissors. Talk to your child first about the parts of the scissors. Then demonstrate how the scissors are used. At last they can explore and practice using the scissors. Don't expect your child to grasp cutting right away. It can take weeks and even months. Your child will learn how to cut the right way when they are developmentally ready. Another fun art project is cutting colored construction paper and pasting it on black paper. This will give you're the chance to cut the paper in any form they want.

Take a trip somewhere that your child can see scissors being used. For example, the pet grooming store and a beauty salon are perfect locations.

Do a cooking activity with your child that involves using scissors. For example, you can make homemade cookies together. Have your child cut the dough with scissors and place the pieces on a cookie sheet.