Cutting - Page 2 of 17

The Paper Plate Ring Toss

Steps:

Help your child use the scissors to cut the center out of four paper plates to make rings.
Tape a paper roll vertically onto the center of a sturdy piece of cardboard to create a post.
Use markers to decorate the rings and the post with bright colors.
Place the target on the floor and mark a starting line with masking tape a few feet away.
Ask your child to stand behind the line and try to toss the rings onto the post.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required while using scissors. Ensure the play area is clear of toys to prevent tripping.

Noodle Notch Shelf Build

Steps:

Use the scissors to cut a pool noodle into pieces about as long as a ruler.
Hold the noodle piece firmly with your non-cutting hand.
Snip three or four horizontal slits into the side of the foam.
Squeeze the handles together to make sure the scissors cut deep enough.
Slide a wooden craft stick halfway into each of the new slits.
Make sure the sticks are tight so they act like tiny shelves.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up a soft pom-pom.
Carefully place the pom-pom onto the flat end of a craft stick.
See if you can fill all the shelves without any falling off!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the pom-poms are not placed in the mouth as they can be a choking hazard.

Foam Spike Pom-Pom Insert

Steps:

Secure the foam sheet firmly onto a piece of construction paper using masking tape. This stabilizes the work surface.
Use a marker to draw 10 to 15 short, straight lines (these are your ‘spike’ targets) randomly across the foam sheet’s surface.
Challenge your child to hold the foam steady with their helper hand. Use child-safe scissors to snip along each drawn marker line. Squeezing through the resistant foam requires strong effort!
Pick up one pom-pom using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Carefully aim the soft pom-pom at one of the newly snipped slits. Use controlled force to push the pom-pom halfway into the slit, turning the foam into a colorful, spiky cushion.
Repeat this inserting action until the entire foam surface is covered in pom-pom ‘spikes’.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required when using scissors. Ensure that the child uses the scissors only for cutting the foam. Small pom-poms are used in this activity and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Collect all small materials immediately after play.

Foam Fortress Cut

Steps:

Draw several thick, straight lines or simple shapes (like squares and rectangles) onto the foam sheets using markers.
Help your child position the foam on a stable table. Encourage them to hold the foam firmly with their non-dominant hand to keep it from slipping.
Challenge the child to cut along the drawn lines using child-safe scissors. Cutting through the thick foam requires a strong, sustained squeeze.
Once all the foam pieces are cut, choose two pieces and align their edges. Push them firmly together to connect them and create a small structure.
Continue connecting the foam pieces by pushing their edges together until the entire ‘fortress’ or structure is complete. Try to make it as tall as possible.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses age-appropriate scissors safely and monitors the position of their helper hand, keeping fingers away from the cutting path.

Taped String Snipping

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a piece of cardboard into a sturdy rectangle. Stretch several long pieces of yarn tightly across the cardboard and secure the ends firmly with masking tape.
Place the cardboard on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant hand to provide a stable base.
Using child-safe scissors, encourage your child to snip the taut yarn. They must close the scissors completely to cut through the resistant string.
Encourage a strong, full squeeze of the scissors to get the proprioceptive feedback from cutting the tight material.
Continue snipping all the yarn strands until the cardboard frame is clear. Count how many snips it took to complete the task.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure your child uses age-appropriate scissors safely. Collect all small yarn pieces immediately after the activity, as they are a choking hazard for children under five.