Required materials: Paper, kid's scissors with metal blades and blunt ends (like these), a bowl, crayons/markers (optional)
Age: Probably 3 and up (under close supervision)
Reason to try it: It's simple, fun for the kids, and easy to clean up
Let me start by saying that kids need the real thing when it comes to scissors. We have had the plastic kind. Yes--they are safer than metal, but they just don't cut as well. Getting each of my kids good scissors was worthwhile.
Recommended activities:
1. Making 'soup'
Letting kids cut up paper makes a mess. It's an easy-to-clean-up mess, but it's still a mess. Try telling them to make soup with their scraps.
How is this done? By simply putting scraps into a big bowl. This keeps the scraps off the table and floor in an engaging way for the kids.
2. Coupons
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| Coupons made for me by my son |
I'm a coupon-clipper. The kids see it every Sunday. Give them a chance to help. Either save the coupon section (that you don't need for yourself) or let them make their own.
My daughter calls her little scraps coupons. She doesn't color them first.
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| My daughter designated the red piece a coupon. |
3. Cutting practice
Draw lines on paper and have your kids cut the paper by following the lines. This improves their manual dexterity and fine motor skills. Here I did some zig-zags, some wavy, and some plain straight.
Try drawing shapes for older kids.
For clean up? Just brush any loose scraps into the bowl. Same with the scraps on the floor. Simple!
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Stealing Time giveaway update -- Unfortunately, there is no winner due to the lack of comments.
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