Padding not passing
Someone needs to go back to Junior School himself.
Things that (sometimes unreasonably) get on your nerves...hopefully lighthearted
I look after my dgds twice a week and yesterday I had them and we did our usual arts and crafts. I've got loads of ribbons and glue and we just cut out pictures from magazine and stick them down. Keep them entertained for ages.
I let them use my small (adult) scissors but I'm always at the table with them when they're using them. They are 3 and a half and 5. They're very confident and I can see the 3.5 year old has got better at using them over the past few months. At no point are they in danger that I can see - they don't run around with them. But my daughter came to pick the girls up yesterday and got very carried away by how dangerous it was allowing them to have scissors and I need to be more responsible.
What do you think? I hate the plastic kids' scissors because I think they're a con and kids are perfectly capable of learning to use proper things if done safely.
Padding not passing
I never bought rounded end scissors because I preferred to teach my children that some things if used improperly can hurt them etc.
I grew up without passing being put on the corners of furniture, plug sockets didn't have plastic covers etc and learnt to use scissors responsibly.
I was never hurt or injured nor did I hurt or injure anyone else.
I raised my children the same way so that they used things in a responsible manner from a young age.
I despair sometimes at how children are turning out to be as they are denied freedom and to be able to behave responsibility.
I have read numerous times on Mumsnet where mothers ask if it's ok to leave their 15 year old home alone for a short time! Fifteen! For goodness sake, it's beyond ridiculous.
However, as they are not your children you should abide by the mother's wishes even if you think it's silly as I do.
and,........ while the grandmothers are about it..... Please instruct the grandchildren in the correct way of holding scissors to pass them to someone else
We bought our GC a mini tool kit complete with hammer, pliers, a saw etc. No one sawed their hands off though they did bash their fingers a few time with the hammer.
We also have several trees with poisonous berries or seeds in the garden. They know not to eat these. Same principle- teach them how to do things safely and how to recognise risk.
Children will have access to age appropriate scissors at nursery (from a very early age) and at school so your daughter needs to accept that fact and you need to buy some.
Children should be taught to handle then carefully by only using them while sitting down and carrying them by holding the blades together. I'm sure you are doing that already. Parents are neglecting their duty by not teaching their children how to handle tools correctly. Can you ask a profession in the educational world to talk to your daughter and back you up.
It's an unusual place where a grandparent sitting with a 3 year old using scissors, can't manage that if a phone rings, or someone comes to the door.
My just 3 year old grandson was helping in the garden earlier this week. One of the things he enjoyed was using my gardening scissors. We were together, I helped him hold them properly. He understood they're grown up scissors and he's only allowed to use them with my help and only if I give them to him.
It's part of learning, part of a loving relationship.
Standing over my gs i have allowed him to place baking tays in ovn and slice soft things with a medium sharp knife too. Like op he is not allowed to run around and has to think of what he is doing. Too many older children are unable to do the basics.
I think it is easier to just go with whatever the parent prescribes.
One of my children is super cautious about what their children do when they are with us so we just follow the parents' rules.
The other one trusts us to keep their children safe and use our own judgement. We are equally careful with both sets of children.
Horses for courses I suppose.
I got a pair of Fiskars children's scissors from a craft shop for my GC. Perfectly safe and they cut well.
I'm still nervous when I see my GC using scissors liberally. It is obvious they have been taught correctly but accidents do happen. I just zip my fuddy duddy lip as usual but they don't have them on my watch.
As long as they are supervised I see no problem. There are child experts who say we are raising a generation of children who are unable to evaluate risks as they are never put in a position to 'risk assess' for themselves.
My DD gave GDs use of adult scissors when they were young. They are sensible and supervised, but how are children going to learn to be careful if we stop them doing anything risky.
Adult scissors should not be used by children but I wonder if at the age of 3 1/2 and 5 the children's mother has taken them to a nursery or reception class recently where free use of children's scissors would be available all the time?
It's the same with cooking and woodworking tools - the more dangerous equipment is that which is not sharp and doesn't do the job - as we've all found out as adults!
Our DGD is 4 and has been taught how to use scissors in nursery recently. She wanted to cut out here the other week, and we had to give her "normal" scissors. She used them perfectly ... again always with us nearby.
I certainly wouldn't let her use scissors unsupervised, but it's all part of their learning development.
On to using a knife at meal-times now!
DGS uses adult scissors, if the phone rings etc, you just quietly take them off them for the few minutes it takes to anwser.
He also uses the secateurs under close supervision in the garden, he has been using adult cutlery since he was able to handle it properly.
He is 6 and we have just explained the dangers to him as we went along.
Since he started school here at 3 he has been using real cutlery for his school lunch.
I think you have to assess the child and if you think they are capable and you have the time to 100% supervise them then fine.
I think it is interesting that we worry about different safety issues. One of my grandchildren when they were a toddler, loved to cut out, and I had no worries about it (his mother also let him cut out, he did use children's scissors with rounded ends) my husband, however, couldn't bear it, and had to leave the room.
On the other hand, he has no problem with children in play parks with swings etc. I absolutely hate it, and worry constantly when we are there.
I used to play on a sodden mattress on a building site behind my house. I used to climb ladders in the market garden and jump into their cellar but Gee Whizz. SCISSORS! ?
I wouldn't give young children adult scissors , most of them have very sharp points. You are supervising them but what if the doorbell goes or the phone rings ? You need to have eyes in the back of your head with young ones.
As someone else has said there scissors specially for young children and they cut paper well, if the children want something thicker cut then you are there to do it for them. It's important for children to take part in arts and crafts and it does entertain them for ages. Tell your DIL you are going to buy safety scissors for them and everyone should be happy.
Rounded end scissors are fine, but not pointed ones. You could be on the phone or in the loo and they might get into an argument over a picture they both want and start pushing and shoving each other to keep hold of it, with the scissors in their hand, anything can happen.
I've got some rounded end scissors that have been in use for years so a very worthwhile investment and worry-free.
You used to be able to buy metal rounded children's scissors and I've just found lots on Amazon so you could order these or look in your local craft shop
I actually bought a child's pr of scissors that were as sharp as normal scissors. It advised caution when using on the pkt. Think they were from Wilko.
There is a middle road here. There are children’s scissors that are not plastic, good enough for cutting paper and have rounded points. Keep mum happy. It is not worth having her worry and it only takes a second for an accident happen when you are distracted - doorbell, phone etc
Children's scissors aren't all plastic. They just have rounded ends. I just googled children's scissors and Hobbycraft sell ones which have a plastic handle and metal blades with rounded tops for children for £1. Surely it would be worth investing in a pair as a compromise but show them to the mother first.
Its the other way round with us I am the overcautious Nanna and my daughters encouraged their offspring to do all sorts of things that I wouldnt. I think it is right to let them explore but with good supervision. Do you think we should be doing risk assessments?
I've done exactly the same with my young DG and she loved it. Using scissors is a skill that needs to be learnt and as long as they are supervised 100% I can't see any problem. It wouldn't have worried me when my DD was young either.
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