A Great Book To Teach Your Toddler To Cut Paper

I was delighted when I chanced upon this book called “KUMON FIRST STEPS WORKBOOK” which introduces children 2 years onwards to cut paper.  Aptly entitled “Let’s Cut Paper!”  the colorful book is filled with delightful pictures of animals and toys.  These photos contain lines that your child could follow that can improve his skills with cutting paper.  Using child-safe (child-friendly) scissors (those with rounded edges), he can follow the small cutting patterns and move on to slightly complicated turns (like zig-zag or twisting lines) towards the end of the book.

It truly gave my daughter a sense of achievement as she was given an opportunity to hold the scissors and try to cut the patterns on her own.  It was a good way to bond since I took my own pair of scissors and started cutting wrapping paper as I keenly observed her do her own thing.

The pictures that come inside the book can be used in countless ways, they can be used for collages you can make with your child, or puppets (just stick a popsicle stick at the back and stay behind a couch and pretend to have your own puppet theater) or even use them to decorate scrapbooks.  If you happen to know easy origami, you can also use these cut-outs for your own folding-paper patterns.  I kept some of the photos my child and I cut since I could use these as “gift tags” or cards for Christmas presents.  With paper, the possibilities are countless!

Here are a few more online resources for arts & crafts activities that involve cutting paper for you and your child to enjoy together:

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/papercuttingsartscraftsideaskids.html

http://www.origami-resource-center.com/kirigami-for-kids.html

http://www.scissorcraft.com/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/papercrafts/

http://www.worksheetworks.com/miscellanea/hand-eye/scissors.html

Cutting paper benefits a child because it enhances his hand-eye coordination.  This ability of the body to use what one’s eyes are looking at to direct the hands in motion is part of physical motor development, and is essential in life skills and nearly evey aspect of physical activity.  Sean Brotherson, a Family Science Specialist, shares his thoughts on Understanding Physical Development in Young Children in this article link:http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs632w.htm

Add to your child’s growing self-esteem by guiding him in activities like paper-cutting and arts and crafts.  Working closely together not only provides extra bonding time but introduces him to activities that enhance his creativity and dexterity.  Enjoy!