Looking for a fun way to practice scissor skills with kids? And keep them engaged, busy, and playing? Try this nature cutting bin: a perfect outdoor activity for kids that’s easy to set up and fantastic for fun and motor development. In this post, you’ll also find tips for helping kids learn proper scissor skills (and information on left handed kids, too).
What is a nature cutting bin?
I decided to play gardener one spring day (which is always a scary game for the plants in my yard). Everything out there needed a little spring planty-hair cut (I’m sure that’s the professional term), but instead of tossing the clippings right into the yard waste bin, I put them into a dish pan.
And made nature cutting bin.
It’s free, it’s easy, it’s a perfect part science, part sensory, part fine motor skills activity. It’s everything.
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Why you should create a cutting bin
I first found out about this idea from my dear friend at Play Teach Repeat.
What I learned from her was a few invaluable lessons on teaching cutting skills:
- Start young. We often think of cutting as a school skill, but kids need to learn this BEFORE kindergarten.
- Use non-paper materials. Take cutting off the dotted line worksheet and into the real world. A plant is a much easier and more forgiving surface to cut than a piece of paper.
What I love about this activity is the simplicity. My outside chore – trimming and dead heading plants – became an activity.
We reused something that was doomed for the yard waste.
No muss, no fuss, no extra expense.
Why is a nature cutting bin so important?
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make Pinterest perfect kids activities when really, our kids just need simple, fun, and engaging ideas that often cost little to no money.
This activity is so important for kids for two main reasons:
- It helps kids develop cutting skills.
- It gives them a chance to be UP CLOSE and personal with plants. It’s a science moment the way they explore and notice parts that they may have otherwise missed as they race past a bush in the yard.
What are the best scissors for kids?
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Blunt End Scissors
A great first pair to start with: these are the scissors you will see more often in a preschool or daycare settings. They’re a lovely little set.
Pointed Scissors
Love these Fiskar scissors with a pointed tip. If your child is ready for the next stage of scissors, this is them.
When should kids start using scissors?
It’s up to you when your kids begin using scissors but personally, I like introducing scissors between ages 2-3 years old.
This gives kids time to explore scissors between ages 3-4 years old.
And it sets them up for scissor proficiency as they end preschool and head off to kindergarten.
Scissors skills are really important in kindergarten. Kids feeling confident and independent with scissors is an often overlooked kindergarten readiness skills. When kids are no proficient in cutting as a kindergartener, they rely on the teacher for help which slows down and impedes their learning of the actual materials.
“One weird trick” for teaching kids to cut
On your child’s thumb, draw a smiley face.
While they are cutting, remind them to “keep the thumb up” or “make sure you can see your thumb smile.” This is an easy way to correct them as they twist and tilt their hands in off directions.
Kids are so much more successful when they have this visual to remind them where their thumb and hands should be.
What about left-handed kids?
Fun fact: I’m left-handed. So is my husband. NONE of our kids are.
We both learned to cut using right-handed scissors (and for us, in our right hands). We both self taught and have no memory of actually learning to cut. We used what was available to us (and right-handed scissors were all we had).
I’m so glad I learned to use right-handed scissors because the rest of the world doesn’t own left handed ones. They aren’t readily available to use. When I was a teacher or when I’d go to friend’s houses and needed to trim something, I was so glad I knew how to use right-handed scissors or I’d be sunk.
We lefties, in general, are great at adapting. We do it with lots of things that right-handed people probably don’t think twice about (like a ten-key, computer mouse, potato peeler, and a stick shift). It comes with the lefty territory and in my humble opinion, scissors are another area where we just learn to adapt.
*Some lefties use right-handed scissors in their left hand. If you have a lefty at home, follow their lead as they learn to cut.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.4 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie has written two home learning curricula, Playing Preschool and Branches. Her parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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Sami V. says
I stumbled upon your website and you are such a blessing to me right now! I am a former PreK teacher who did all sorts of awesome and fun things like you do here. But since having my own child, I think most everything went out the window! Not to mention I don’t have any of the school resources, or many many printables I had accumulated and laminated. I also think back to what worked for a few hours 5 days a week program with 3 – 8 kids and much of it seems not worth it with my one child. My child already knows all the things I would have taught in PreK, so I am a little lost there what a 4 year old who could enter PreK this fall should be learning and focusing on while also keeping play a priority (not worksheets) but having the learning at the right level and not expecting too much. As it is my first time homeschooling, we will also struggle with the routine and consistency of “learning time” as we call it since we are very free flowing and child-lead in the day and play if it isn’t appointments, playdates, errands, or church we have on the schedule. I am rapidly feeling overwhelmed with all I need to plan, prepare, teach, and am trying not to break out in a cold sweat about the fact that my kid barely uses scissors or writes/colors/anything! These fun outdoor activities, like your giant summer science boxes, sensory bins with some math themes, and these natures cuttings I think are just perfect for what I need to start phasing both of us into more guided play for the summer and into the routine of learning time (while still giving me time to figure out what I’m doing there!). Thank you so much for all these wonderful ideas and your beliefs about kids and play and learning with that! You’ve inspired me and brought me back to my PreK roots and love for fun and play (and sensory bins!!) again!