You don’t have to encourage The Babe to pick up a a pair of scissors. It’s one of her greatest joys. But eating what I serve her? Not so much. So here’s Part 2 in the ongoing series of Food Crafts (check out Toast Painting, too!).
In case you hadn’t heard, scissors skills are critical to growing minds because they help train hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body at once). Scissor skills are also precursors to handwriting as they build the muscles in the palm of the hand and the tripod fingers (thumb, index and middle fingers). Supporting and using scissors is developmentally very similar to using a pencil properly.
I laid out a snack where she could cut everything on the table. Including the paper plate, the napkin, even the cup and the straw from her milk (once she drank it!). I also washed her craft scissors well in hot water. Paste and germs don’t mix well with snack time… Get creative in what you serve but first of all make sure it’s hitting the four food groups, food pyramid, paleo plan or whatever guide you use to get healthy food into your child. This was my chance to get her to eat something she won’t usually touch and it worked!! Some very cuttable foods include:
- raisins and other dried fruit
- sliced cucumbers
- sliced apples
- noodles
- cheese (slices, sticks or shreds)
- lunch meat
- strawberries
- almond slices
- bread
- hot dog halves
- lettuce
- fruit leather
- shredded wheat cereal
Hope your kiddos have fun cutting up their lunch! For other ways to encourage scissor skills, check out my Scissor Skills Pinterest board.
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