Making & creating
Snip-snip lion mask
- Builds: Snipping with scissors
- 15 min
- Ages 4–6
- Calm
- A little tidy-up
From the house
- Child-safe scissors
- Colored paper or junk mail
- A paper plate
- Tape
- Crayons or markers
How to play
- You cut the paper into long strips about two fingers wide, and cut two eye holes in the plate.
- Show them the grip: thumb in the top hole, fingers in the bottom, and snip open, shut, like a mouth.
- They snip the strips into short pieces for the mane: one snip, one piece.
- Tape the pieces around the plate, draw a nose and whiskers, and hold it up for a big roar.
Fit it to your child
- Easier: Hold the strip tight for them so they only have to open and close the scissors.
- Harder: Draw wavy lines on the strips for them to cut along, and let them design a different animal with ears they cut out.
Words to use
- snip
- open
- shut
- thumb on top
- roar
Why it helps
Snipping across a narrow strip is the first scissor skill, and a mask to wear at the end makes every snip worth it.
Grown-up eyes: Child-safe scissors only, sitting at the table. You cut the eye holes, and put the scissors away after.