Snipping with Scissors
Here's What To Do
Demonstrate how to snip paper with child-sized safety scissors. Exaggerate your finger movements and say “cut” with every snip.
Let me practice holding and moving the scissors without paper at first. Assist as necessary by placing your hand over my hand.
Hold a small strip of paper for me. Let me practice snipping the edge, making a fringe in the paper. When I’m first learning, I won’t be able to cut along a line yet.
Teach me the rules for safe scissor use. Explain how scissors can cut us just like they cut paper.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Set up your supplies in a space free of distraction.
Engage:
- “Watch how Mommy uses scissors. Open, close, open, close. Cut cut cut.”
- “Can you try opening and closing the scissors? Let’s try it on the paper.”
Encourage:
- Help me place my fingers- thumb in the top hole of the scissors and pointer finger in the bottom hole (or pointer and middle finger together if that seems more comfortable).
- Keep it low pressure. If I’m not getting the cutting motion today, encourage my efforts and try again another day.
Reflect:
- Am I beginning to understand the correct scissor motion? Do I seem to favor one hand over the other when I’m cutting?
Not quite ready?
Help me practice some of the same hand movements by playing with small kitchen tongs. Show me how I can use them to pick up small toys or food.
Ready for more?
Help me practice cutting along a straight line.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to make coordinated scissor cutting movements resulting in small “snips” of the paper.