3.3y–5y10 minArtDevelopmental playSelf-care

Left-Hand Friendly Making: Comfortable Cutting & Creating

A quick, supportive routine that checks handedness comfort, offers left-hand-friendly options (especially scissors when needed), and helps your child practise safely without fatigue or frustration.

What you'll need

Essentials

paper
child-safe scissors (use left-handed scissors if needed/available)
crayons or thick markers
a tray or container for ‘tool parking’

Nice to have

tape or glue stick
small sticker dots (or torn paper pieces) for decorating
a thicker pencil grip substitute (a small rolled cloth or rubber band around a pencil, adult-prepared)

Movement level: low

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

Milestone
Shows a preference for a dominant hand.
Body· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 1

What it practices

Shows increasing control over an object in pushing, patting, throwing, catching or kicking it.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Provide a range of left-handed tools, especially left-handed scissors, as needed.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0