Helping Kids Learn to Use Scissors: A Fun & Safe Guide
Updated: Oct 9
Learning to use scissors is a big milestone for little hands. It builds fine motor skills, hand–eye coordination, and confidence. With the right tools, clear steps, and lots of encouragement, scissor practice can be both safe and fun.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the best types of scissors for kids, simple tips to teach proper technique, safety rules to keep everyone protected, and playful ways to practice.
1. Why Scissor Skills Matter
Scissor skills are about much more than cutting paper. When children learn to cut, they are also:
Strengthening the small muscles in their hands and fingers
Practicing hand–eye coordination
Learning to use both hands together (one to hold the paper, one to cut)
Building focus, patience, and problem-solving skills
These are the same skills they’ll use later for writing, buttoning clothes, tying shoes, and many other everyday tasks. Starting early with simple, playful cutting activities helps make these skills feel natural.
2. Child-Friendly Scissor Types
Not all scissors are created equal. The right pair makes learning easier and safer.
Safety Scissors (Beginner)
Blunt tips to reduce the chance of pokes and scratches
Smaller size to fit little hands
Often made of plastic or with a plastic coating
Best for toddlers and preschoolers just starting out
Look for scissors labeled “ages 3+” and always check that they can actually cut paper (some toy scissors are too dull and can be frustrating). Mamaw's keeps self-opening scissors and preschool training scissors in her stash.
Right-Handed vs. Left-Handed Scissors
Right-handed scissors are designed for right-handed kids.
Left-handed scissors have blades reversed so left-handed kids can see the cutting line and apply pressure correctly.
If your child is left-handed, try to find true left-handed scissors. Using right-handed scissors in the left hand can make cutting much harder and less accurate.
Spring-Assist or Self-Opening Scissors
These scissors have a small spring that helps the blades open after each cut.
Great for kids who are still building hand strength
Reduce fatigue and make the open–close motion easier to learn
Helpful for children with fine motor delays or low muscle tone
3. Teaching Proper Scissor Technique
Go slowly and break the skill into small, simple steps. Here’s a parent-friendly way to teach:
Step 1: How to Hold the Scissors
Show your child how to keep their thumb on top.
Use a simple phrase like: “Thumbs up!” or “Thumb in the small hole, fingers in the big hole.”
For most kids:
Thumb goes in the top/small hole
Middle finger (and sometimes ring finger) goes in the bottom/bigger hole
Pointer finger can rest on the outside for extra control
You can draw a smiley face on their thumbnail and say, “Make sure the smiley is looking up!”
Step 2: How to Hold the Paper
The other hand holds the paper - also "thumbs up!"
Fingers should be away from the cutting line.
Encourage them to turn the paper, not the scissors, to follow lines and shapes.
You can say: “Scissors stay straight, paper does the turning.”
Step 3: The Open–Close Motion
Before cutting paper, practice the motion:
Have your child open and close the scissors in the air.
Use a fun cue like: “Chomp, chomp like a little alligator!”
Count the “chomps” together: “1, 2, 3…”
Once they’re comfortable, move to cutting short snips on the edge of a strip of paper.
Step 4: Cutting Along Lines
Start with:
Thick, straight lines on wide strips of paper
Then short curved lines
Later, simple shapes like squares or rectangles. Circles and ovals are harder, so work up to those.
Keep lines bold and high-contrast (black marker on light paper works well).
4. Safety Rules for Scissor Time
Set clear, simple rules and repeat them every time you practice.
Basic Safety Rules
Scissors stay at the table.
We only cut paper (or the material you choose), not hair, clothes, or skin.
Walk, don’t run, when holding scissors.
Point the blades down when carrying scissors.
You can turn this into a quick chant before you start: “We cut paper, we sit still, we keep our fingers safe—that’s our scissor skill!”
Supervision Tips
Always stay nearby when your child is using scissors.
Start with short practice sessions (5–10 minutes).
Put scissors away in a safe place when you’re done.
If an accident happens (like cutting hair or clothes), stay calm, remind them of the rules, and try again another day.
5. Fun Ways to Practice Scissor Skills
The more playful the practice, the more your child will want to keep trying. Here are some simple, fun ideas. Most of these can be found as free printables on mamaw's website.
Snip Strips
Cut colored paper into 1–2 inch wide strips.
Draw short lines across the strip.
Have your child make one snip on each line.
This is perfect for beginners and builds confidence quickly.
Fringe Cutting
Draw a line about 1 inch from the edge of a strip of paper.
Ask your child to cut up to the line but not past it.
They’ll create a fringe that can become grass, hair, or monster fur in a craft.
Cutting Playdough “Snakes”
Roll playdough into snakes or worms.
Let your child snip the playdough into little pieces.
This is easier than paper and great for building hand strength.
Shape Hunt
Draw or print simple shapes (squares, triangles, circles, hearts).
Have your child cut them out and glue them onto another paper to make a picture.
Turn it into a game: “Can you find and cut out all the circles?”
Cutting Coupons or Old Magazines
Give your child old magazines, flyers, or pretend coupons.
Ask them to cut out pictures of certain colors, foods, or toys.
This adds a bit of real-world purpose to their cutting practice.
6. Encouragement and Progress
Every child learns at their own pace. Some will love scissors right away; others may need more time.
Try to:
Praise effort, not just the result:
“You’re working so hard to keep your thumb up!”
“I love how carefully you’re cutting along that line.”
Celebrate small wins, like:
Holding the scissors correctly
Making a single snip
Cutting along part of a line
If your child gets frustrated, take a break and try again another day with an easier activity.
Final Thoughts
Teaching children to use scissors doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right child-friendly scissors, clear safety rules, and playful practice ideas, you can turn scissor time into a fun, confidence-building part of your day. Mamaw has some free printables to practice scissor skills on her Learning Through Play pages.
Set aside a few minutes each week for cutting activities, stay close by, and enjoy watching those little hands grow stronger and more skilled—one snip at a time.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made directly through my links. This does not add any extra cost for you. It helps pay for website expenses and the time I spend developing, testing, writing, and posting new activities for you and your kiddos.
Section
Comments