Cutting - Page 2 of 17

Balloon Haircut Day

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Draw a funny face on the balloon using markers.
Cut several long pieces of yarn hair.
Tape the yarn hair to the top of the balloon.
Secure the balloon to a wall or door using masking tape at your child’s chest height.
Encourage your child to use safety scissors to trim the yarn hair.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. If the balloon pops, pick up the pieces immediately. Broken balloon pieces are a choking hazard.

The Masking Tape Web Rescue

Steps:

Place a small stuffed animal inside a plastic basket.
Stretch several long strips of masking tape across the top of the basket in a web pattern.
Make sure the tape is pulled tight so it stays in place during the rescue.
Hand your child the safety scissors and show them where to start cutting the web.
Challenge them to cut through every tape strip until the opening is clear for the toy.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors to ensure they stay safe. Ensure the basket is stable to prevent slipping.

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.