Teaching Cutting Skills

Don't worry with supervision this is achievable!  Fine motor skills(small muscle movements) is the name of the game and let's face it- very difficult and frustrating for a preschool child.  I suggest you work your way up to this by having your child, rip paper, bead pasta or beads.  It is quite easy and remember never leave a child unattended with scissors.

What you need:
Play dough...I prefer homemade on the stovetop kind
Scissors, blunt tip, also with cushioning on the handle
Construction paper not copy paper(Copy paper is flimsy and very difficult for preschool children to use)
ALWAYS establish your rules for using scissors first!
Start by rolling play dough into long, thin snakes. 

Place your  fingers along with your child's in the correct holding position in the scissors.  Cut the snake in small pieces by doing most of the work for your child.  Your child needs to understand how these muscles work and undertsand the movement.  Slowly allow your child cut without removing your fingers.  By cutting play dough, child's muscles become stronger and are able to use those fine motor skills


Once you feel like that has been mastered draw simple, thick lines on construction paper and assist your child cutting them, work your way up to more complex lines like zig-zag and shapes.