Scissor issues?

DS is 5 and in kindergarten. I just got a note from his teacher saying he needs help using a scissor. I was kind of shocked but its true- he started off using his right hand but he is a lefty and ob couldn't do it. I think he's watching other kids in his class who are rightys and trying to copy them. Any opinion on leftys and scissors?

Re: Scissor issues?

Left handed kids use scissors just the same way right handed kids do. Hold the scissors in their dominant hand "thumbs up". Get Fiskar brand scissors for kids. The thumb goes in the small hole, the index can join the middle and ring fingers in the larger hole or it can rest outside the hole for added support to the scissors. Scissor skills progress from snipping to cutting along curved lines with the non dominant hand rotating the paper. Elbows should be at a 90 degree angle and shoulders should not be hiked up towards their ear. Start practicing snipping a straw, then paper, then cutting across a whole piece of paper, then along a straight line (about 4 to 6 inches in length) then try a circle (or half a circle if that is too hard). The firmer the paper the easier it is to cut so apeiceof oaktag Or a file folder or construction paper will be easier to cut then let's say computer paper or a magazine. Make practice fun, if your snipping a straw, take the snipped bits and use then as beads on a pipe cleaner or sting and make a bracelet. If you snipping paper make it look like your cutting grass. You can also buy a scissor skills workbook at target/walmart/michaels in the book section of the store.

Re: Scissor issues?

Thanks so much!

Re: Scissor issues?

My son has the same issue. He is a lefty, but I think he is trying to do things like the righty's in the class. The other day he was trying to write with his right hand and it wasn't working. HA

His handwriting leaves much to be desired and we are working on cutting with scissors. We try and do some cutting at least 3x per week. He has definitely improved with it. He is also 5 and just started K.