Learn to cut

From the age of 2, your child can learn to cut. This is a good exercise for fine motor skills and strength and is often addressed in nursery school. We recommend that you also get a pair of children's scissors at home so that your child can practice at his or her own pace. Our BonoboBox for 2.5 years contains a pair of safe children's scissors!

How do you get started?

To start cutting, the material is important. Paper is the standard choice, make sure the paper is sturdy but not too thick. For young children, it is easier to learn to cut with clay or to cut straws into small pieces.

If cutting is still too difficult, you can start tearing and pasting. This way your child also learns to work together bimanually (with two hands), you improve hand strength and fine motor skills.

Your child should put the thumb in one eye and the middle finger in the other eye, the index finger and the hand control the movement. The other hand is the assisting hand and holds the paper. The thumb remains pointing upwards and make sure that your child keeps the elbow close to the body. The paper is turned by the assisting hand.

For children who have mastered the cutting movement, you can give the tip not to close the scissors completely. This way your child will get a smooth line and it will be easier to cut for a longer period of time.