Author Description

Welcome to my scissor cutting, color and paste skills book. Let me start by letting you know the importance of learning scissor skills. During the course of my 26 plus years of teaching small children, I have observed a dramatic fall in the ability of children to use scissors correctly. The main reason for this is lack of focused practise. This book provides an easy gateway for your child to learn how to cut safely and effectively. I have listed the main benefits below: Fine Motor Skills The development of fine motor skills in children is only second in importance to gross motor skills such as moving independently - walking, crawling, eating and drinking. Generally speaking, fine motor skills should be developed by the time your child reaches the age of 8 when the synaptic pathways are secure. Coloring, Cutting and pasting skills are an excellent way to create, develop, reinforce and extend motor skills and muscle memory. Critical Thinking Critical thinking occurs naturally when the brain is faced with a task. Your child will analyse the task at hand before making a choice as to how to complete it. 'What colors should I use?'; 'Should I use patterns?' 'Do I color or cut first?' All of these decisions are being made at the same time. Remember to step back and let your child explore and make mistakes. Visualisation Each of the tasks included in this activity book has set goals Coloring the animal Cutting out the animal Pasting the animal on the clear page provided Extension - Create a scene on the blank page (a canvas if you like) on which to paste the completed animal Your child now has created their own expectations as to how the task is done. Each time they complete a task, they will get better and better. Sense of Accomplishment With each task your child completes, the fruits of their labour are there for all to see. Their efforts are unique to them and them alone - no one has created the finished produc