Cutting with scissors is a skill that requires a lot of practice. Children need time to master scissor skills. They can start using small, rounded scissors at the age of 3 to 4, but the ability to use scissors effectively doesn’t fully emerge until the age of 6. To ensure that youngsters don’t find using scissors frustrating, cutting activities should be done at their level.
Why are scissors skills so important for children?
Cutting with scissors develops your child’s fine motor skills and coordination.
- Develop hand-eye coordination – when cutting with scissors children have to use both their hands and watch where they are cutting, at the same time.
- Improve bilateral coordination (learn to use both sides of their body in a different way) – one hand holds the scissors and the other holds the paper.
- Build hand and fingers strength – children use the muscles in their hands to open and close the scissors.
- Improve attention – using the scissors requires attention to details and a lot of concentration.
Below is a FREE Printable that I created for cutting skills practice FREE Printable: Cut & Glue a Koala Bear. It will help your children improve their scissor skills.
Some of our favorite resources for kids cutting skills:
There are a lot of resources for cutting skills practice for 3 to 6 years old children. The following are some of our favorites:
Enjoy!
