At what age did your children learn to use scissors?

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

I was reading a thread about what your child should know/be able to do before starting in reception.

The biggest things were general behaviour, toilet trained etc, but someone mentioned using scissors safely.

DD is 4.2 yrs and can hold a pencil properly, and shows a lot of of control (can trace over lines, colour in neatly etc) but just cannot get her head around scissors. She can't seem to fit them in her hand properly, let alone actually cut anything.

Does it really matter, or should I sit down with her and some scissors and the Argos catalogue?

Yes, I really don't have enough to worry about :o

Is she right handed?

She will be expected to use scissors from reception onwards, esp into Y1 and Y2.

Practise will probably make things easier for her. Make sure the scissors she uses are sharp enough to cut too. The plastic paper things are useless ime. They need some form of proper blade.

Have you seen the double handled scissors? If she is really struggling this lets you help her using the same scissors.

Argos catalogue and some paper - many children can while away many a few minutes with those!

My ds was using them at 2years under supervision he needed help to know where to put his fingers and still needs to be shown now and again

Yes she is right handed.

I don't know whether to keep putting them in her hand properly, or just dump the argos book in front of her and tell her to get on with it? :o

Like someone else says, sharp scissors are best, but you can get sharp scissors that are rounded at the end.

Just encourage her. If she finds it really too difficult, then ask her reception for advice.

Does she enjoy crafts? Palydough, hama beads etc?

She does like playdough, haven't tried Hama needs yet (not sure my husband would cope with the stress of finding teeny fecking beads everywhere :o ) she is pretty good with sticking, glitter etc

We have some decent plastic scissors with proper blades and rounded ends that are child sized, so ideal, so it is not those.

DD3 (2y4m) spent a happy half hour yesterday chopping a piece of paper into confetti. Very happy bunny.

Right, off to argos tomorrow then :o