5 Ways To Teach Children Scissor Skills
Scissors are dangerous. They are essentially two sharp blades clamping together and capable of cutting a myriad of materials. This can include the skin and explains why there are an estimated 16,000 personal injuries with scissors across the globe every year! It’s not just the cutting, scissors are sharp enough and pointed enough to plunge into the body and cause serious injury.
That’s why you and your provider of child care Liverpool need to make sure children are fully aware of the dangers of scissors present and how to handle them properly.
1. Start Without Scissors
In order to hold and use scissors properly, children need enough hand strength and fine motor control skills. They may not have these when they are very young and want to try using scissors. Although there are child scissors that are comparatively blunt, the best way to teach them scissor skills is to work on strengthening hand muscles first.
You can do this by encouraging play with play dough, using tweezers, peeling and sticking stickers, and even using building blocks like Duplo.
It will improve their fine motor skills.
2. Direct Them
Before you let them loose with scissors you should make sure they are good at following directions. You can practice this at home and in the classroom. It starts with telling the child why following directions is important. You can then progress to verifying that they can follow directions.
This can be done by playing a game like Simon Says, it’s fun and ensures the children are listening.
3. Talk Them Through Scissors
It is vital to ensure they are aware of the risks associated with scissors. Talk them through the issues while giving them child scissors. They must only handle them when you tell them to and follow your instructions regarding holding them.
This is how you ensure they hold them properly, carry them correctly if necessary, and are aware of the responsibility that goes with scissors.
By doing it this way you are giving a child responsibility which they will love.
4. Simple Cutting
Once the children are familiar with the risks and responsibilities of using scissors it’s time for them to start cutting. The best approach is to mark out lines on the card and tell them to cut them.
Make sure every child is holding the scissors properly, knows where to hold the card, and is capable of following the indicated lines.
You can even create a chant to help them remember what they are doing and get them to repeat it as they use the scissors.
5. Crafting
Once you are happy that they can follow lines on paper and card and use scissors safely you can move up to crafting and give them things to make. Ideally, it will be images made out of pieces that are glued together. The child can then have fun cutting and sticking while learning. You simply have to supervise to ensure everyone is using the scissors properly and respectfully.
