how important is being able to cut well?

[HappyLady]

My just-turned 5 year old DD does. not. like. to. cut. things. out! She's never been an "arts and crafts" kind of kid (must get that from me), but she's at least willing to do some coloring now. Whenever I try to do projects with her that involve cutting something out she mangles it! Then whines and cries that she can't do it. Her fine motor skills seem fine so do I really need to push this anymore with her?

[Eagle]

Have you tried the Kumon cutting workbooks? They start with simple straight lines to cut and work up to curves and more complicated shapes. They have really helped ds improve his cutting skills and if he messes up it isn't a big deal since he isn't cutting something for a specific project.

 

Also make sure she has nice scissors of an appropriate size. Ds has left-handed children's Fiskar scissors that work really well.

[msjones]

I used to teach public school kindergarten. Learning to cut takes practice, and lots of kindergartners can't yet do it well.

 

Teach her how to take little 'bites' with the scissors and to turn her paper -- not her arm/hand-- to follow the line. Show her what you mean -- demonstrate big 'bites' vs little 'bites' and turning your arm/hand vs turning the paper. Kids can come up with some pretty wonky ways of trying to cut.

 

I agree with Eagle that the Kumon cutting workbooks are nice. I used them with my own boys. Colorful, sturdy pages, and they start at the very beginning with straight lines.

 

Also, for some reason, some kids just LOVE to cut up a pile of rubber bands into tiny pieces. It's a low-pressure scissor-practice activity. It might seem silly, but it requires them to use the scissors precisely and exercises their little hands.

 

Good luck! She'll get the hang of it.

[AdventureMoms]

I used to teach public school kindergarten. Learning to cut takes practice, and lots of kindergartners can't yet do it well.

 

Teach her how to take little 'bites' with the scissors and to turn her paper -- not her arm/hand-- to follow the line. Show her what you mean -- demonstrate big 'bites' vs little 'bites' and turning your arm/hand vs turning the paper. Kids can come up with some pretty wonky ways of trying to cut.

 

I agree with Eagle that the Kumon cutting workbooks are nice. I used them with my own boys. Colorful, sturdy pages, and they start at the very beginning with straight lines.

 

Also, for some reason, some kids just LOVE to cut up a pile of rubber bands into tiny pieces. It's a low-pressure scissor-practice activity. It might seem silly, but it requires them to use the scissors precisely and exercises their little hands.

 

Good luck! She'll get the hang of it.

 

Or ribbons. Dd loves to turn little wrapping ribbons into confetti.

[TranquilMind]

My just-turned 5 year old DD does. not. like. to. cut. things. out! She's never been an "arts and crafts" kind of kid (must get that from me), but she's at least willing to do some coloring now. Whenever I try to do projects with her that involve cutting something out she mangles it! Then whines and cries that she can't do it. Her fine motor skills seem fine so do I really need to push this anymore with her?

 

 

My son is still like that. His motor skills were slower to come and he still hates artistic stuff. He is so not happy that he requires 2 fine arts credits in high school, as he is a math/science geek.

 

So, I wouldn't worry. Some people are just not crafty, nor artistically skilled. At 5, I'd not worry at all.

 

DO NOT push little kids at all. They will do it when they are ready.

[dbmamaz]

i still remember a friend saying "why on earth would i want to give scissors to a preschooler? I turn around for a moment and she's cutting her hair!"

 

my youngest hated cutting. i always hated arts and crafts. i got in to it later. i dont see what the problem is. we tried one lap book, and he hated everything about it, even tho I did half or more of the cutting. he prefers other ways of learning. fine by me. if he wants to get crafty later, he can learn to cut later.

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

My boys hated cutting anything at 5 as well, at 10 and 13 they do it willingly now. They still don't "like" it.

[HelenNotOfTroy]

My DS loves to cut if it doesn't matter how it turns out, but if it is a project or specific craft, he wants me to cut so it won't be messed up, so maybe encourage just using the scissors to cut up a piece of colored construction paper?