Between preschool and kindergarten, most kids have the fine motor ability to begin working on their scissors skills. Scissor skills give kids the precision they need to write and perform other fine motor tasks with their hands.
It takes time and practice for kids to get good at using scissors.
They need to be taught the proper techniques, they need to do activities to build hand strength, and they need plenty of opportunities to practice.
Worksheets for Cutting Skills
A variety of cutting practice worksheets can keep kids engaged while also giving them the practice they need. Kids should start with simple cutting skills, like lines and shapes, and work their way up to cutting more advanced figures.
Below are ten free printable cutting worksheets for different skill levels. There are a variety of activities to keep kids engaged as they get in some scissor cutting practice. These worksheets can be used in class, during centers, or as homework.
Line Cutting Worksheets
These cutting worksheets are great for beginning cutters. Lines are easy because kids don’t have to turn their scissors as much and can focus more on opening and closing them.
One sheet contains only straight lines, making it ideal for kids who are just starting to use scissors. The other two sheets have a mix of straight, curved, and zig-zag dotted lines. These sheets get kids used to cutting and turning their scissors at the same time. They make great preschool cutting pages.
Shape Cutting Worksheets
Once kids have mastered cutting different types of lines, they’re ready to move on to shapes. Shapes are still simple, as the lines are usually straight and the figures aren’t too detailed.
Squares are one of the easiest shapes for cutting, so it’s a good sheet for kids with less experience. The other worksheets have challenging ones, like a star and hexagon.
Animal Cutting Worksheets
Kids enjoy activities involving animals and animals make good figures for cutting practice. These two sheets feature a hippo and an elephant. Cutting around familiar curved shapes can improve scissor skills.
Kids can color the pictures first before cutting them out. Coloring is another important skill, as it also helps develop hand strength and fine motor skills.
Advanced Cutting Worksheets
Cutting practice also works well when it’s part of a larger activity. Kids may be motivated to cut more carefully if they’re cutting to create something bigger. These sheets let kids cut out shapes that they can glue together to make an image.
These two printables make good cutting practice for kindergarten and older students because it requires more advanced skills. The figures are smaller and more intricate, helping kids improve their skills.
Tips for Developing Scissor Skills
Cutting worksheets are just one part of helping kids develop scissor skills. Kids also need to do activities to help develop their fine motor skills and hand strength. Children can start doing these activities before they ever use scissors so that their hands are ready.
There are many toys and activities you can set up to help kids work on their fine motor skills. Threading beads, lacing cards, LEGO, blocks, and more can help kids fine-tune their skills.
Hand strength activities are also beneficial. Modeling clay is a good option. Kids can use small tongs to pick up cotton balls. Tearing paper is another fun activity. Even playing at the playground can build hand strength through climbing and playing on the monkey bars.
Cutting Practice and Beyond
These cutting practice worksheets are sure to help your child develop the skills needed for cutting activities in preschool and kindergarten. Your child will be cutting like a pro before you know it and ready to move on to other crafts.
After you download these scissor skills worksheets, be sure to check out 16 more cutting activities that can help your child work on their cutting skills.