Scissors! We want kids to be able to use them correctly, safely and successfully…but in order to do that …they need to practise! And I’m sure I’m not the only one who worries a little bit about the practising part, especially if it’s unstructured.

If it was up to my little one, for example, she’d happily sit with a pair of scissors and paper for hours cutting away.

So how can you embrace this love of scissors whilst making it safe and encouraging the skill development?

Here’s two quick scissor skill activities that don’t require very much equipment

1) Hair Monsters

What do you need?

• Paper
• Sellotape/glue
• Pen 🖊
• Scissors ✂️

How do you make them?

1. Fold a piece of paper 3/4 of the way along the length.
2. Encourage the child to draw a face on the bottom half

3. Draw lines vertical lines on the top 1/3 of the paper, 1cm width apart. Supervise the child to cut along the lines up to the fold.

4. Roll the paper and stick in place.

5. Try making a whole family, using different cutting lines (zig zag, curved lines etc) This helps differentiate the activity, wider straighter lines will be easier for most children whereas the curved/zig zag lines make the task more challenging.

2) Sun Shine Scissor Craft

Very quick activity that allows plenty of scissor practise.

What do you need?

Yellow paper

Pen 🖊

Scissors ✂️

Round objects to draw round eg plate and sellotape.

How do you make it?

1. Encourage the child to draw round a plate onto the paper.

2. Either the child or yourself, cut round the circle. They can then draw round the sellotape in the centre of the circle.

3. Draw lines (around 1cm diameter) from the outside to the centre circle.

4. Ask the child to try and cut into the centre along the lines.

5. They can then draw a sunshine face in the centre!

Benefits of Scissor Skills Activities

Not only are these activities great for developing children ability and confidence with scissors but they all help with fine motor skills, hand strength, hand-eye coordination and creativity. They also provide an opportunity for children to practise following instructions in a sequence.

*As with all our activities, we take no responsibility for the safety of them. It is your responsibility to risk assess the activities based on the children in your care.