Scissors Practice Cutting Collage Art
Give your preschooler safety scissors and paper to cut freely, then glue the pieces into a collage — real practice disguised as art.
What You'll Need
- 1Safety scissors
- 2Construction paper (multiple colors)
- 3Glue stick
- 4Markers for drawing cut lines
- 5Background paper (cardstock)
What You'll Need
Safety scissors (child-sized with blunt tips)
Construction paper in multiple colors
Glue stick
Markers for drawing lines to cut along
Cardstock for the collage background
How to Play
Set out safety scissors and several pieces of colorful paper on the table. Have a clear workspace.
Show your child how to hold scissors — thumb in the small hole on top, two or three fingers in the large hole below. Practice the open-close motion a few times in the air.
Draw thick straight lines on paper for your child to cut along. Start with simple straight lines before moving to curves.
Let your child cut freely. Straight lines, curves, tiny snips along an edge (fringe), and random cuts are all valuable practice.
Collect all the cut pieces — long strips, small triangles, curvy shapes — into a pile. Every piece is a collage material.
Spread glue on a background sheet and let your child arrange the cut pieces into a design. Layer, overlap, and fill the page.
Celebrate both the cutting and the collage. The process of cutting was the skill practice and the collage is the beautiful result.
Tips
Cutting is a two-handed skill: one hand cuts while the other holds and turns the paper. Both hands are working together.
Start with narrower strips of paper — about 1 to 2 inches wide. These are easier to cut across in one or two snips.
If your child struggles with cutting, try stiffer paper. Floppy paper bends instead of cutting cleanly.
The collage step is important because it gives purpose to all the cutting. Nothing is wasted — every scrap becomes art.
Store extra cut pieces in a bag for future collage projects. A stash of pre-cut shapes is always handy to have on hand.
Age Adaptation Tips
Preschoolers can follow multi-step instructions. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to predict what will happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: safety scissors, construction paper (multiple colors), glue stick, markers for drawing cut lines, background paper (cardstock).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 3-5 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 20 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.