Toddler Scissors: 9 cm
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
Toddler scissors, 9 cm, made to work in either hand. That last part is not a small thing: most first scissors are quietly right handed, and a left handed two year old given them will press the blades apart instead of together and decide that cutting is beyond them. Nine centimetres is short enough that the whole tool sits inside a small hand, so the cut comes from the fingers closing rather than the arm. Paper, dough and soft strips first.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The 9.5cm toddler scissors fulfill a critical need in the eighteen to thirty-six month period when children seek to refine their hand movements and participate in practical life activities. These rounded-tip scissors allow toddlers to safely experience the satisfaction of cutting, addressing their developmental drive for independence and purposeful work.
- Bilateral hand coordination through opening and closing scissor blades
- Pincer grip refinement and hand muscle strengthening
- Visual-motor integration by following cutting lines
- Concentration development through focused cutting tasks
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The small 9.5cm size matches the proportions of toddler hands, enabling proper grip development without strain. Through cutting activities with these scissors, toddlers build the hand strength and bilateral coordination essential for later writing skills. The act of opening and closing the scissors' blades requires focused attention and controlled movement, naturally extending concentration spans. These child-safe scissors transform cutting from a forbidden adult activity into an accessible skill, respecting the toddler's capability while ensuring safety through rounded blade tips.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place scissors on a tray with strips of paper (1-2cm wide). Position at child's dominant hand side on a low table.
- 1
Demonstrate holding scissors with thumb in small hole, fingers in larger hole
Show in slow, exaggerated movements - 2
Open and close scissors in the air several times
Let child practice this motion before attempting to cut - 3
Hold paper strip vertically, make one snip across
Start with single snips before continuous cutting - 4
Place cut pieces in a small bowl
This adds purpose and order to the activity - 5
Return scissors to designated spot when finished
Always model careful handling and storage
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
Toddler Scissors: 9 cm
