Shop Scissors Blog

Teaching Left Handed Children

With only approximately 10-15% of the population favoring a left hand, you may be surprised to discover that your own child is left-handed. It’s important to keep this in mind when teaching your child gross motor and fine motor skills, as there are a few special points to consider.

One of the most important things to remember is that if your child appears to be favoring a left hand, you should let them. If you force a child to use his right hand when he appears to be left hand dominant, you will diminish his overall coordination and he will always struggle to complete tasks with his right hand, when they could have been easily completed with the left. Check out these tips for teaching your left-handed child.

1. Teach the proper grip for pencils. The grip is the same for right- and left-handed children, but to be able to see what they are writing, it is best to direct them to hold the pencil slightly further back, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches from the point. This will also help them to avoid smearing the text as their hand drags over the letters.
2. Substitute pens for pencils. This will make it easier for the child to write, as it will reduce the tendency for smudging.
3. Invest in left-handed scissors.  Left-handed scissors have blades and finger loops that are positions opposite those of right-handed scissors. A pair of true left-handed scissors will allow the child to hold the scissors more comfortable and see where he is cutting. These scissors will also cut more accurately, as the pressure will be correctly applied to press the blades together as they cut, and will be less likely to rip the paper.
4. Tell your child he is left-handed. Most children have no idea if they are right- or left-handed. It’s important that the child is aware to let a teacher or physical education instructor know they are left handed so the teacher will demonstrate the paper form from a left-handed approach.
5. Experimentation. When your child is learning gross motor activities, it’s important to allow him the freedom to experiment with whatever feels comfortable. Even if he is left-handed, there are certain activities that may feel most comfortable using the right hand. Some children don’t demonstrate a clear preference for one hand or the other until the age of 5 or 6, so this period of experimentation with what feels comfortable is extremely important.

To purchase a pair of left-handed scissors, visit us at ShopScissors.com.

Tips to Better Enjoy Craft Time with Your Kids

Time spent on crafts with your kids is supposed to be fun time. But with worry over messes and making sure you have everything you need, it is easy to turn craft time into stress time. Here we have provided a list of the top five tips for keeping craft time a memorable, fun experience with your kids.

1. Consider clothing. Make sure that your children’s clothing is well protected in the event paint is spilled. If you leave them in regular clothing, accidents are bound to happen. Make sure they have changed into older play clothes. Old, large adult t-shirts are also great for covering clothing and acting as a paint smock or apron.
2. Tools. Make sure you have everything laid out ahead of time that you will need, whether it is cups for water for rinsing brushes, paper plates for mixing paint colors, or left handed scissors for your left handed children. Be prepared so you don’t have to go scrambling for something in the middle of craft time.
3. Work station. Make sure that your table, or whatever work station you select, is well protected. Newspapers and cardboard are great options.
4. Allow for independence. While you are there to help and have fun, don’t help out too much. Make sure you step back and let your kids go it alone, even if the result isn’t necessarily beautiful. Allow them the freedom to be creative…even if it is just in their own way.
5. Have fun. With all the preparation you have done, you should be able to spend time with your kids without worrying over spills or messes, so don’t forget to just step back and enjoy.

Spruce up any spring party with hanging paper flowers

Nothings as pretty as flowers in spring. Bring some more of Mother Nature's best indoors with hanging paper flowers.

What you'll need:

• Gusseted paper bags of any size
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Double-sided tape
• String

Step 1

Fold the bottom of a bag in on itself. Cut above the lower fold, removing the bag's bottom. Trim the top into a petal shape.

Step 2

Punch a hole about 1/4 inch from the bottom. Repeat process with five more bags. Apply double-sided tape to the front edges of a bag. Place another bag on top, and repeat to stack all of the bags. Draw a length of string through the hole in the stack; knot it loosely.

To complete the project, please visit Martha Stewart Online.

Feature Friday: Blunt Tip Left-handed Children's Scissors

Blunt Tip Scissors for your little lefty.

5" Junior Left Handed Green Scissors with Blunt Tip are specially designed for a child’s hand. The molded, symmetrical handles are for left handed use. An inside grind on the stainless steel blades mean they are accurate and dependable. These scissors cut easily through paper, fabric, string, and other craft material.

• Color: Green
• 10-year warranty
• Ages 4+ 
• Also available in Blue and Pink

Left-handed? We have scissors for you.

We know left-handed people comprise a close-knit community. Posters, car decals, heck, there was even a "Left-Handers" Day last year! One huge pet peeve for our left-handed friends is using scissors that weren't made for them.

That's why we carry a full selection of left-handed scissors for adults and children.

Spotlight On: Left-handed Poultry Shears

Kick off a year of healthy eating with the best gadgets to help you save time in the kitchen. All of our left-handed customers will enjoy our left-handed poultry shears.

It helps you clean and cut chicken -- making prep time a breeze.

Clauss Heavy Duty 8" Left Handed Poultry Shears (lefty) are lightweight and manufactured with heavy-duty stainless steel blades. 

• Heavy duty stainless steel scissors
• Offset nylon handles
• Specially contoured thumb hole for firm control
• EXTRA-large lower bow for gloved hands
• Thick blades for long-lasting edges under normal use  
• For left handed use
• Red Nylon Handles

Attention Lefties: Start off 2010 with Products Made Just For You

Lefties unite! Resolve to find products that cater to your "handedness" this new year.

1. Start off at home, by organizing your life with The Left-Handers: 2010 Calendar full of left-handed legends, lore and more.
2. Next, create an inviting office with left-handed notebooks and left handed scissors. 
3. Create those healthier meals with ease using left handed vegetable peelers and can openers made just for you.

Weekend Feature: Left-handed training scissors

Learning to cut with scissors can be challenging for children. It's even more challenging if they're lefties using uncomfortable scissors. Left-handed training scissors are a great solution.

Product Details: 

4" Left Handed Training Scissors with Blunt Tip (lefty) have new and improved stainless steel blades with plastic handles are extremely comfortable and rust-resistant. Specifically designed for left handed use. The v-shaped design of the finger holes makes it easier for the teacher’s hand to guide the student’s. Limited 5 year warranty.

• 5-year warranty
• Left Handed Training Scissors  
• V-Shaped Sesign
• Blunt Tips

Calling all lefties

Lefties can't deny great tools designed just for them. That's why we bet you can't pick just one pair of scissors to take home. There's a pair for every use you can imagine.

• Left-handed executive scissors - They're ideal for medium to heavy-duty cutting. A cushiony grip with stainless steel blades

• Junior left-handed scissors - cuts easily through paper, fabric or string -- ideal for kids.

• Left-handed bent trimmers - The preferred choice for people who use shears continuously!

Be sure to pack your left-handed scissors for the new job

Many people are choosing to make 2009 their year of change. It means finding a new job, going back to school or delving into a hobby they've always wanted to try.

Even while the economy is slow to pick up, individuals are seizing the opportunity to find the job they've always wanted in another industry. But if you're a lefty, don't count on your new office having your favorite pair of left-handed scissors.

It's up to you to find that golden pair that suites your needs, so you can pack it up and take it with you wherever you end up. The left handed executive scissors will blend in well with any office setting. The cushion rib grip, precision cutting and stainless steel blades make these scissors the perfect pair.