Oliver got some practice with scissors today! Of course, I used the cheap, safety scissors. They run about a dollar or two. We bought a Crayola pair that works surprisingly well. Safety scissors have come a long way since I was a kid! Back then, you might as well tear what you were cutting.
Anyway, Oliver has been fascinated with me using scissors to trim his hair recently. I'm not a good barber, but his last hair cut cost $25 and was already past his ears two weeks later. So, I've been slowly trimming it. I use the word "slowly" because Oliver only lets me make a few snips before he runs away.
I helped Oliver hold the scissors semi-properly and helped him cut a slice into some thick, shipping paper. He was very eager for me to let go and let him do it by himself.
Here's Oliver examining his scissors:
He decided the two-hand hold works best. I held the paper for him, and he got a few snips in:
Anyway, Oliver has been fascinated with me using scissors to trim his hair recently. I'm not a good barber, but his last hair cut cost $25 and was already past his ears two weeks later. So, I've been slowly trimming it. I use the word "slowly" because Oliver only lets me make a few snips before he runs away.
I helped Oliver hold the scissors semi-properly and helped him cut a slice into some thick, shipping paper. He was very eager for me to let go and let him do it by himself.
Here's Oliver examining his scissors:
He decided the two-hand hold works best. I held the paper for him, and he got a few snips in:
Honestly, because he's two, and because this is the first time he's held scissors, he wasn't very good at using them. I suspect it will be a while before he can use scissors properly, and that's OK with me! Oliver became frustrated easily, and wanted out of his chair. I kept seeing him sneak back over to the scissors and try to use them again and again. They never occupied his time long, maybe just a minute or so each time, but he probably tried to use them a dozen times over the period of an hour or two.
I like giving Oliver a challenge, and using scissors is definitely a mental and physical challenge. I don't think this will be an activity that he'll enjoy for quite some time, but maybe by Christmas 2012, he and I can make snowflakes with scissors and construction paper. For his age now, I give this activity a C+.
I like giving Oliver a challenge, and using scissors is definitely a mental and physical challenge. I don't think this will be an activity that he'll enjoy for quite some time, but maybe by Christmas 2012, he and I can make snowflakes with scissors and construction paper. For his age now, I give this activity a C+.
