Scissors are a popular always-available and easily-accessible loose part in some settings and rarely seen in others because they’re considered too dangerous. I’ve visited early learning programs where it’s standard operating procedure not to introduce scissors to kids until the age of four. This is a shame, since snipping and slicing is a way for kids to express themselves creatively, hone small muscle control and strength, feel powerful, and more.

Note, if you want to help kids succeed, opt for REAL scissors that actually cut instead of those crappy safety scissors that are only good for cutting play dough. The safety versions might make interesting loose parts in some cases, but not if you’re interested in actually cutting. Playvolution HQ reader and sometimes Child Care Bar And Grill guest host, Carol Kohl, shared that she once worked with a kid who referred to the blades and frustrating things as pretend scissors. Smart kid. (Here’s a related article and podcast episode.)

Scissor Tongue

Ever seen Scissor Tongue? It’s a sign of concentration as kids work to cut successfully. I think it’s also a good sign that there’s a lot of learning going on.

More Than Small Muscle Skills

Chopping pieces of construction paper into confetti does more than build small muscle skills. It also allows kids to bump up against many other learning opportunities. It’s a chance to learn things like:

• Social Skills
• Language Skills
• Visual Tracking
• Power And Control
• Creativity
• Perseverance

Offer Scissor Variety

To supercharge scissors as loose parts, consider collecting a variety of styles for kids to experiment with. Different designs will handle differently. This is mostly based on their length and the location of their pivot point. By the way, mechanically speaking, scissors are composed of two simple machines–A pair of levers and a pair of wedges. That means playing with them is also a chance to fiddle around with STEM concepts.

Variety Of Materials

Offering a variety of materials to cut–from tissue paper to cardboard–will also help keep scissor use fresh and exciting.

Outside Scissors?

If you’re feeling a little wild, scissors can also head outside to play. There a some logistic and safety related things to work out. For example, how do we make sure they all make it back inside, or how do we make sure Clair isn’t giving haircuts under the slide. But ways to address those things can be sorted out. It’s worth the effort. Kid’s will find many fresh and interesting ways to use scissors outside.

Your thoughts and questions are always welcome in the comments.

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