Choosing the best scissors for preschoolers can feel overwhelming. Walk into any craft store or browse online, and you’ll find dozens of different children’s scissors. Some are made entirely of plastic, some have spring-assisted handles, and others look just like miniature adult scissors. So which pair should your child start with?
The right scissors can make learning to cut easier, safer, and much more enjoyable. On the other hand, scissors that are too difficult to use can quickly lead to frustration and discourage your child from practicing.
Before introducing scissors, it’s important to make sure your child has developed the necessary hand strength and coordination. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend reading my guide, Before the First Cut: 5 Fun Activities to Build Pre-Scissor Skills, where you’ll find simple activities that prepare little hands for successful cutting.
Learning to use scissors is just one part of fine motor development. If you’d like even more simple activities to strengthen little hands, read my guide on 10 Simple Ways to Develop Fine Motor Skills.
Once your child is ready, here are the five best types of beginner scissors, recommended in the order they are typically introduced.
1. Play Dough Scissors – The Safest First Step
Before your child ever cuts paper, let them cut play dough instead.
Play dough scissors are made entirely of thick plastic and don’t have sharp metal blades. They are designed to cut soft materials such as play dough while being safe enough that they won’t cut clothing or hair.
Why they’re great
Play dough provides gentle resistance, making it much easier than paper for beginners. Instead of worrying about following a line or holding paper correctly, children can simply focus on learning the basic open-and-close motion of the scissors.
Activity idea:
Roll long “snakes” of play dough and let your child cut them into small pieces. You can also make pretend spaghetti, worms, or birthday candles for even more fun.
2. Spring-Action (Self-Opening) Scissors
Many parents assume closing the scissors is the difficult part—but for young children, opening them again is often the biggest challenge.
Spring-action scissors include a small plastic lever that automatically opens the blades after each squeeze.
Why they’re great
The spring helps children practice the correct cutting motion without becoming tired. Instead of struggling to reopen the scissors after every cut, they can concentrate on aiming and controlling the movement.
Once your child becomes comfortable opening and closing the scissors independently, gradually remove the spring assistance so they can continue building hand strength naturally.
Loop scissors work in a very similar way and are another excellent option for children who need extra support.
3. Dual-Control Training Scissors
Some children understand how scissors work but still struggle with coordinating both hands.
One hand needs to hold the paper steady while the other controls the scissors—a skill called bilateral coordination.
Dual-control scissors make learning much easier by allowing an adult to help.
Why they’re great
These scissors have four finger holes instead of two.
Your child places their fingers in the front holes while you place yours behind theirs. Together, you guide the cutting motion, helping your child learn the rhythm and coordination without taking over completely.
This shared practice builds confidence while allowing children to experience success from the very beginning.
4. Blunt-Tip Safety Scissors
Once your child can comfortably open and close scissors independently, they’re ready for classic preschool scissors.
Look for scissors with rounded tips, comfortable handles, and stainless steel blades designed specifically for children.
Popular brands such as Fiskars are well known for making durable preschool scissors that cut paper smoothly without requiring excessive hand strength.
Why they’re great
Unlike many inexpensive safety scissors that simply bend or tear paper, quality preschool scissors make clean cuts. This helps children stay motivated because their efforts produce better results.
When choosing a pair, look for:
✔️ A size designed for preschool hands
✔️ Rounded safety tips
✔️ Comfortable ergonomic handles
✔️ Smooth cutting blades
5. True Left-Handed Scissors
If your child is left-handed, choosing the correct scissors is incredibly important.
Many children’s scissors are advertised as “ambidextrous,” but true left-handed scissors are designed differently.
The blades are reversed so left-handed children can clearly see the cutting line while applying pressure in the correct direction.
Why they’re great
Using right-handed scissors can make cutting unnecessarily frustrating.
The paper often folds instead of cutting cleanly because the natural squeezing motion pushes the blades apart rather than together.
A proper pair of left-handed scissors immediately makes cutting easier and more enjoyable.
If you’re still unsure whether your child is naturally left-handed, allow their hand preference to develop instead of encouraging them to switch hands during cutting activities.
Quick Comparison
|
Scissors |
Best For |
Recommended Age |
|---|---|---|
|
Play Dough Scissors |
First cutting practice |
2–3 years |
|
Spring-Action Scissors |
Building cutting motion |
3+ years |
|
Dual-Control Scissors |
Parent-guided learning |
3+ years |
|
Blunt-Tip Safety Scissors |
Independent cutting |
4+ years |
|
Left-Handed Scissors |
Left-handed children |
Any age |
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Most children are ready to begin practicing with child-safe scissors between 2½ and 4 years old, depending on their hand strength, coordination, and individual development.
Plastic scissors are perfect for introducing the cutting motion, especially with play dough. Once children develop enough hand strength, blunt-tip metal scissors are usually the best choice for cutting paper.
Many occupational therapists recommend starting with play dough scissors or spring-action scissors before moving on to traditional preschool scissors.
Don’t worry—this is very common.
Take a break from scissors and continue strengthening little hands with activities like clothespins, tweezers, spray bottles, play dough, and paper tearing. You can also find more ideas in my article Before the First Cut: 5 Fun Activities to Build Pre-Scissor Skills.
Final Thoughts 💭
Learning to use scissors doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with strong hands, plenty of practice, and the right tools.
Start with the easiest option, celebrate small successes, and let your child build confidence at their own pace. Pair these scissors with fun cutting activities, thick paper, and creative crafts, and you’ll be surprised how quickly their skills improve.
If your child isn’t quite ready yet, don’t rush the process. Building pre-scissor skills first creates a much more positive learning experience and helps prevent frustration later on. Every little snip brings them one step closer to cutting with confidence.
