Snip snip Cut!

SCISSORS!! Someone commented on Yulli's cutting skills the other day, which lead into a whole convo about scissors... so naturally here is a whole post on scissors!!

If you really break it down, using scissors is super hard! You need hand strength, wrist stabilization, hand-eye, fine motor and bilateral coordination etc. etc. Yikes!! There is no better way to develop scissor cutting skills then exposure and opportunities to practice. Yulli started using scissors when she was 2 years old because she showed interest in it. Obviously every kid is different and I don't think they fully develop the skill until they are 6 years old. No need to push it or freak out but definitely give them lots of opportunities to try. You'll know whether or not your kid can handle it or not. It's important to set some ground rules like "stay sitting while cutting" and "cut paper only", and to constantly remind them of the rules. We've only had one hair cutting incident so far (knock on wood) Haha. Just keep an eye on them and they should be fine... or they might give themselves a fancy new haircut lol!!

Keep in mind that not all scissors are created equally! There is nothing worst than giving kids dull scissors just because you think they are "safer". Ughhh can you imagine how frustrating it would be and how much harder it would be to use dull scissors that don't cut properly and just kind of folds the paper. I would get discouraged quickly, so imagine how a child just starting to learn to cut would feel!

Yulli has a whole whack of scissors... all different types! Haha I bet you probably didn't know there were so many different types of scissors for kids. I always like to give her choice and exposure to different types so she can decide what she wants to use. Here are some of the different ones that we like and some things to take into consideration.!

The most popular type is probably the blue pair... with one small hole for the thumb and a bigger hole for the other fingers. I think these are called fiskar scissors... or is that just a brand? Or both? Anyways, notice in contrast, the pink pair has 2 holes that are the same size.

Another thing to take into consideration is type of tip. The blunt rounded tip is probably safest and best for little kids. When they're more advanced and can handle it, give them sharper tips for better precision or delicate cutting.

I also really liked the spring scissors for beginners. You just push that little yellow lever down and it helps the scissors automatically spring back open with each squeeze. These are perfect for when they are just learning and/or have limited hand strength and co-ordination.

 

 This green pair is my favourite! It is also a spring scissor but notice it has no holes. You just squeeze it together to cut and it will spring back open. So super easy to use and super great for beginners! It also has a lovely case and is nice and compact. I actually bring this one with me when we eat out at restaurants. It's perfect for cutting up her food! We gave her auntie who had braces a pair because she often found it difficult to chew. Her great-grandmother, who has no real teeth also has a pair too! Haha best scissors ever!

This super cute heart shaped one is also a spring scissor with no holes but also no lever either. It's really easy to use; just squeeze! Can it BE any cuter?

So there you have it, lots of different scissors!
Some other tips I have for you are:

-Remind them to point their thumb up since there is a tendency to turn their wrists for some reason. You can draw a happy face on their thumb nail as a reminder or even put a sticker on there if it helps.

-Start with thicker paper like construction paper or cardstock which is easier for them to hold because it's less flimsy.

-Give them narrow strips of paper to start because they can cut right through with one snip.

-Lots of people advise to draw little straight lines for them to practice cutting on and then advancing to curvy lines and then shapes. But no lines and no real "objective" is best in my opinion. Just giving them a chance to practice and have fun is best. If you give them a line to cut and they can't do it or it's not perfect, it can totally be discouraging. I think kids will naturally be attracted to cutting on lines but it's better if there's no actual pressure to. I remember giving Yules some paint chip cards that have lines that divide the different shades. She was playing with them one day and decided on her own to cut on those lines. Cutting on lines will come naturally, so no need to fret!

Ok that's all I think! Happy cutting!!