Never let your children play with scissors! ! ! How long do you need to hear such advice? First time involved in EYFS in the UK...

Every time there is shocking news, because playing with scissors can endanger eyes or life, there is always a sentence at the end of the article: Never let children play with scissors!

How long do we have to listen to this sentence? How old are children before they are allowed to use scissors? Or is it best not to use it for a lifetime?

Let’s tell the story of my little baby and scissors.

1

Growing up, I was not allowed to cut my nails when I was awake. I tried various ways to avoid being cut. But your nails grow very fast, so you can only cut them secretly every few days while you are asleep in the middle of the night. If you are not careful, you make a mistake in your judgment, and there is definitely a way to prevent you from cutting your nails when you are not conscious or sleepy: cry or eat your fingers. Yeah, clench your little fists, turn over, hide your little feet and hands, or just wake up, it depends on how you cut it, hum! So every time, I either wait until I fall asleep and find my face is bleeding on the second or third day, or I stay up until dark so I can commit crimes. The completion rate is often less than 50, and my sleep is miserable. , still can't escape the heartache of being caught in blood.

"Children are not allowed to touch scissors! How dangerous is it if you get used to it?" This is what I have been taught, so I carry it out firmly every time and do not allow baby nail clippers (super mini) to be touched. Scissors). Every time I accidentally got it, I had to snatch it away, cover it and hide it. Scissors and babies are opposites, and I have never thought about it. For example, if children establish a close relationship with scissors, will it reduce their fear? I will reflect on it, but I have no way to verify this answer. Time always moves forward in a straight line, with no possibility of turning around.

2

After fighting like this for a year and a half, it suddenly became so quiet during the day. I was happy several times. Then the fight for the scissors begins: take the scissors as soon as they appear. I finally understood the baby’s subtext: “My fingers are not for you to cut your nails, they are for holding scissors!”

According to past experience, I began to seriously doubt those few times of obediently letting go. Cut, just to observe and learn better.

Mom said: What a dangerous scissors, hide them quickly! Okay, hide it, keep the scissors out of sight.

Baby: OK, I’ll find it myself!

The little man had to remember the place where the scissors were hidden without any expression, and kept making noises: He wanted to drink water, and then took the scissors at the moment when you were pouring water or holding a water cup. Scissors have no chance, so will your nail clippers! Big scissors are even better!

As long as the child is awake, don’t try to hide his piercing eyes, or even his super sense of smell, or a super power similar to proprioception? Whenever scissors are used, children can appear within a few seconds, start a fight for the scissors, and then hide and stare wherever they go, protesting if they can't grab them. Occasionally the winner is the small one. Fortunately, I didn't know how to use scissors at that time. I had to "cut" a few times just to show off. In fact, it was just pretending. I poked my fingernails a few times in a decent manner, and after "cutting" my own, I cut it for an adult. But even so, it scared the adults at home enough.

3

The sporadic battles lasted for a while, and I couldn’t resist them. Terrible Two is probably not old enough yet, but its tendency to hit people and throw things has gradually become serious. Through investigation, observation, and study, the preliminary conclusion is that self-awareness begins to develop, but the ability of the body or limbs cannot keep up. Often people want to do it but cannot do it, so they can collapse emotionally every second, and even many emotions are For the first time in life, there are so many inexplicable things that children can only vent their anger by shaking their hands or throwing things around them.

It seems that blocking is not going to work... I asked my mother for her opinion: scissors are too dangerous and cannot be used. After searching hard, I found a compromise: child safety scissors: plastic, not pinched, not so sharp. The safety factor is higher, although her grandmother said: the knife edge is still a bit sharp. So, surrounded by my mother and children, I started my scissoring journey with great trepidation and was very happy.

The first time I used safety scissors, the scissors were too big and I couldn’t use them. The children were so excited that they were not stumped at all. They immediately invented a way to hold the scissors like a dagger. The tiger’s mouth cannot open and close. Then Just add one hand and use both hands to get the first haircut in my life. Unfortunately, I have to find an angle when handing over a piece of paper. These safety scissors are really difficult to cut. CUT, CUT, CUT makes me happy to cut, but once I relax a bit or the children use paper to cut by themselves, they can’t cut it at all. This mood will break down within a few seconds.

Delivery will continue the next day. The final one is tearing. Cutting with a click has the same effect as clamping, and cutting with force has the same effect as tearing. But at least it's better than nothing, better than no effect haha

With my mother's warning and the children's sad eyes at the same time, I continued to do the work of handing out paper, and put out fires at any time.

4

After a few days, the safety scissors were abandoned. No need to live or die.

Pure?

What a beautiful thought...

The child finally found a way to grab the big scissors. "Anyway, I have learned the correct opening mode of the scissors, why not do something practical?" Nao, just standing in front of me. My eyes saw that all the cells in her body were shouting: Big scissors! Big scissors! Sure enough, the next second: I shouted "Paper!" One shout was not enough, two, three...

The big scissors cut quickly and neatly, and the operation tips were all correct. A red safety scissor was lying in the corner, without any sense of existence. It was still two people. At that time, I still thought that I would guide or demonstrate to her, hey. I began to seriously doubt the sales volume of the safety scissors that were abandoned immediately. Why are there so many brands still selling them? I began to count in detail the many baby-specific products I had bought and discarded immediately. I could no longer count them on one finger, but people continued to shout about them every day, and the infant and toddler market continued to expand. . . . .

The child cut pieces all over the floor, and pointed at the scissor head and blade to warn me: You can’t touch it here! It’s a great sense of accomplishment to learn and sell now. I actually had a lot of fun too. But I am conflicted in my heart. Once my mother sees it, or someone randomly comes around, I and the children will be scolded: For such a young child, quickly take the scissors and hide them! Just like when the baby was not allowed to wear socks for a physical examination, he was cared for by aunts, uncles and mothers-in-law all the way.

5

Chinese parents of our generation generally have an interesting phenomenon: they are not allowed to do whatever they want since childhood. Suddenly one day, I have to do whatever I have to do. For example: falling in love has been forbidden since childhood, definitely not in junior high school, it is considered early love in high school, and universities are also against it. But when you get a job, you must get married and have children immediately. Can you understand love in seconds? Is the right person standing right in front of you waiting for you?

Going back to the little topic of scissors, how long will my family continue to have this little battle with scissors if they are not allowed to be used? Are there any other ways to open it?

Let’s take a look at the British EYFS. The total length is not large, but small scissors appear a lot. Note: If the following translation is not accurate, please refer to the original English.

22 - 36 months: You might notice that....

Expressive Arts and Design

Exploring and using media and materials

I can explore what happens when I use different types of paint, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, glue and children's scissors.

22-36 months, you may observe: Art and Design Expressive – explore and use media and materials – using different paints, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, glue and children’s scissors.

22 - 36 months: How can you help me with my learning?

Expressive Arts and Design

Exploring and using media and materials

? Make a box with paper, glue, scissors and crayons that I can use to make pictures.

22-36 months, you can help your baby learn in this way: Expressive power of art and design - Explore And using media and materials - make a small box, put paper, glue, scissors and crayons, then your baby can draw.

30 - 50 months You might notice that....

Physical Development

Moving and handling

? I can use child scissors to make snips in paper.

Health and self care

I understand that I have to be careful when I am using children's scissors to snip or my knife to spread jam.

Expressive Arts and Design

Exploring and using media and materials

I know that I can use tools like scissors, spoons and hammers to do different things.

At 30-50 months, you may observe your baby:

Physical Development: Movement and Mastery: I can cut up paper with children's scissors. Health and Self-Management: I understand that care must be taken when using children's scissors to cut or a table knife to spread sauce.

Expressiveness in Art and Design—Exploring and using media and materials: I know I can make different things using tools such as scissors, spoons, and hammers.

30 - 50 months: How can you help me with my learning?

Physical Development

Moving and handling

? Let me practice using children's scissors to cut dough, cooked spaghetti or paper.

From 30 to 50 months, you can help your baby learn in this way: Physical Development - Activities and Operations: Let me practice how to use children's scissors to cut dough. (plasticine), cooked pasta, or paper.

40-60 months

Physical Development

Moving and handling

? I can use scissors to cut paper or cutters to make shapes from dough.

? I can use different things like scissors, paintbrushes, pens, hammers or bricks to make the things I want.

? I choose to use either my left hand or my right hand more to hold things like a pen, pencil, paintbrush or scissors.

Health and self care

? I can show you how I use things like scissors, hammers and saws. safely so I don't hurt myself or my friends.

I can use things like scissors, a hammer and a saw safely without help from a grown up.

Expressive Arts and Design

Exploring and using media and materials

I can use different things like scissors, masking tape, sticky tape, hole punches and string to join and fix things together.

40-60 months, you may observe your baby:

Physical development - movement and manipulation: I can use scissors to cut paper or a knife to process dough (plasticine) into different shapes. I can use different tools like scissors, brushes, pencils, hammers or blocks to make what I want. I choose to prefer my left or right hand to hold things, such as pens, pencils, paintbrushes, or scissors.

Physical Development—Health and Self-Management: I can show you how to use scissors, a hammer, or a saw safely without hurting myself or my friends. I can use tools such as scissors, hammers, and saws independently without help from adults.

Expressiveness in Art and Design - Exploring and using media and materials: I can use different tools such as scissors, masking tape, duct tape, hole punches and string to fasten and stack different things .

40 - 60 months: How can you help me with my learning?

Expressive Arts and Design

? Give me string, scissors, sticky tape, glue and boxes to make a model, like a castle or a car.

40-60 months, you can help your baby learn in this way:

Expressive power of art and design: Give me String, scissors, tape, glue and boxes to make models, such as a castle or a car.

Useful information and self-analysis for me:

1. "At 22-36 months, babies can already be given scissors to create." The same column is: Use daily life Supplies make different sounds, such as spoons, plastic bowls, etc. I thought back to when my baby started making different sounds, and the answer was less than one year old. Ha, so, I also agree that when a 22-month-old baby has a strong awareness of using scissors, adults have no right to stop it blindly.

2. "40-60 months: Can use scissors independently." "30-50 months have realized that scissors must be used with caution." It can be deduced from this: before the child can use scissors completely independently For a long time, safety issues must be paid attention to. At the same time, we realize that it takes a long time for children to develop their safety awareness, so they need to slowly penetrate this safety awareness while constantly supervising. In addition, adults need to set rules.

3. "40-60 months: Only the left or right hand tends to use scissors." So don't force your baby to use which hand too early. The child knows it himself. To let go, this concept must be continuously instilled in the family.

4. Plasticine, castles, etc.: I realized that scissors are a way of expression and can be fun, but the difficulty of operation needs to be reduced. After some reflection: I made a mistake at first. If the paper head is replaced with dough or plasticine, the operation difficulty will be reduced, and the safety factor will be improved. It is a good way for both adults and children to play happily. You can try it. .

Conclusion: My baby is completely ready to start playing with scissors. Scissors can be fun. Of course, it will take a few years before he can play independently and safely. Safety measures must be taken in these few years.

6

Suddenly I remembered a chat with a friend who works in early childhood education: animals can use their feet very well, so the development of gross motor skills is not much different for everyone. But only humans are the best at using their hands. It is better to pay attention to the fine movements of fingers from an early age. The growth of the brain requires external stimulation, and fingers are the best.

7

When I went home that day, the children found another way to get the scissors. This time, I cut a semicircle myself, let the baby cut the thorns on the hedgehog's back, and then drew the hedgehog's eyes. Then there was all kinds of crazy fun and laughter. And the scissors have been put away by me unconsciously.

The above is the story of the hedgehog and scissors. There are also plasticine and scissors, colorful snakes and small scissors, string strings and scissors... I continued to search and saw handicrafts that Japanese babies started when they were 2 years old, as well as colorful knife crafts from the UK, Australia, etc., which really impressed me. It's so itchy and breathtaking that I don't have to worry about being able to kill this little devil. I'm looking forward to playing with it myself.

8

I really like one of the scaffolding concepts in EYFS: a word that often appears is support. When children are still children, the role we adults have to play is to set up scaffolding: it is not to force the seedlings to grow and let the roots break, nor to block and block everything, nor to condone and let happy growth, but to provide appropriate provision at the appropriate time. With help, appropriate induction, and appropriate restrictions, determine what the baby can do through observation, then take a step forward and wait for the baby in front.

The British EYFS is the abbreviation of Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. Some people translate it into the British early basic stage education system, or the British early education outline. EYFS is one of the world's authoritative early childhood education standards. A special survey was set up by the British Department of Education and Skills (the highest education administrative department in the UK) since 2000. 7,000 experts, scholars and teachers conducted long-term follow-up studies on 3,000 infants and young children, confirming the importance of early education for infants and young children aged 0-5. nature, and professionals conducted scientific and rigorous research on early education methods, and finally formulated this system. The compilation process lasted 12 years and cost more than 150 million in total. The scientificity and authority of EYFS have been widely recognized around the world. It is the largest early education tracking and effectiveness evaluation project in history.

As an undocumented parent, the preliminary EYFS confirmation is worth my time and study, so that I can better observe and understand my baby. In addition to checking for omissions and filling them, it is actually more about thinking and inspiration.

9

Reference documents:

What to expect, when? Guidance to your child's learning and development in the early years foundation stage

What the "Parents of PhDs in the UK" public account says about scaffolding

Xiaobu University's Hedgehog Scissors Game