Toddlers and preschoolers can practice scissors skills using craft dough. It’s simple, safe, and the supplies are very likely already on hand!
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What you need:
- Craft dough (any kind, we use Colorations brand, but the most popular is – obviously – PlayDoh)
- Scissors (you can even use the toddler plastic safety scissors)
What to do:
- First, clear a safe working space. Provide a pair of scissors and craft dough.
- While supervising the children, encourage them to cut the craft dough. They can roll it up and cut it into slices, they can cut through a big hunk of it, they can flatten it and cut through it like paper, they can cut it however they’d like. Work with them on proper hand placement while using the scissors. Give them freedom to explore, however. If they want to try turning their hand upside down, that’s fine. If they want to use two hands, that’s fine. It’s okay for them to experiment.
- Kids will play with craft dough for hours. If they get tired and want to put the scissors down, that’s totally okay. When we’re focusing on scissors skills, I only put out craft dough and scissors, so when they are ready to go back to using the scissors, there are no other toys or tools to distract them.
- That’s it! Give the kids the freedom to learn and explore! But please supervise very closely when the children are using scissors.
Importance of process art:
We strongly encourage caregivers to provide process art projects for their toddlers and preschoolers.
When it comes to crafts and activities for young children, it is about the process of creating rather than creating a perfect product.
The kids practice fine motor skills and improve creativity and self-confidence with process art projects. Check out more about what process art is and how to incorporate it into your child’s activities with this video.
Looking for art history process art projects for toddlers and preschoolers?
- Richard Long Handprint Art
- Piet Mondrian Shape Art
- Susan Schwake Marble Painting
- Vincent van Gogh Plant Painting
Follow us on Instagram for more art history and process art activities!
