Is It Age Appropriate To Incorporate Scissors In The Experiences For Children Under 2?

[ellieyang]

Personally, I don't think children under 2 are capable of using scissors to cut papers, but our director insist they can do it.

[Butterflyblue]

Hi ellieyang,

Plastic or safety scissors are the best option age appropriate option. They won't get hurt and can still have the experiences

Try soft things like play dough, cooked pasta etc to cut first so they can learn how to manipulate a scissor, strengthen hands and develop dexterity and fine motor skills. Paper can be difficult to cut, are the 2 year olds able to cut it?

Just be careful if the scissors have a sharpened blade, especially if the kids are still putting things in their mouths!

[caitlin181999]

I think as long as you closely supervise the experience and teach the children the rules with scissors (ie they're for cutting, the scissors stay at the table ect) then it should be alright.

[Nandy84]

Hello,

2-year-olds should be able to start using scissors to make snips on paper. Between the ages of 1.5 to 2 years old, a child learns to hold scissors, often using both hands to open and close the blades. At ages 2-2.5 years old, a child learns how to open and close the scissors. But they are not ready to use it on their own.
Some pre-cutting skills should introduce to a child to increase a grasp-release motion, to cut on a line, and to turn the paper while cutting. Pre-cutting skill practicing is important as it will help children to safely use scissors and accurately cut along a line. But in any case, strong supervision is needed.

Thanks

Nandita

[Lorina]

For under‑2s, scissors really aren’t age‑appropriate; their fine motor skills and coordination just aren’t there yet, and safety is a big concern. At that stage, it’s better to stick with experiences that build the foundation for later scissor use, like tearing paper, ripping playdough, or pulling apart soft materials. Those kinds of activities give toddlers the same sense of cause‑and‑effect and strengthen little hand muscles without the risk. Once they’re closer to 3, you can start introducing safety scissors with lots of supervision, but before that it’s more about playful prep work than actual cutting.

,
Lorina