Cut Paper Collage
Here's What To Do
1
Give your child pieces of differently-colored paper.
2
Discuss and model the safe use of child-safe scissors.
3
Demonstrate using the scissors to cut the strips of paper into smaller squares or triangles. Ask your child to try cutting paper into smaller pieces shapes (they likely won't be perfect shapes).
4
Give your child paper and glue to create a collage with the cut pieces.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Take a deep breath together: breathe in for 3 counts and out for 3 counts.
E
Engage:
- "This is how I cut with a scissor, with my thumb on the top side and my other fingers on the bottom. Can you give it a try?"
- "Now, can you take your smaller cut pieces and glue them into a design on this paper? This kind of art is called collage."
E
Encourage:
- It may be helpful to remind your child that they should be able to see their thumb when they cut (it should be facing up towards the ceiling, not down towards the floor).
- Your child may get frustrated with cutting, so go slow and reassure them that they will learn with practice. If they are super frustrated, you can make cutting your job and gluing their job.
R
Reflect:
- Ask your child to describe the details in their finished collage.
Not quite ready?
Cut the paper pieces for your child, and have them glue the pieces into a collage.
Ready for more?
Give your child a specific idea or prompt for creating a cut paper collage, like a landscape or animal. Let your child do most of the cutting.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use scissors to make a collage expressing their ideas.