• Simple paper cut-outs can be used for decorations.paper angels image by GeoM from Fotolia.com
  
  Paper cutting is intriguing to many youngsters and it helps them develop hand-eye coordination skills. Having their own special scissors to be used on these special occasions can give them a feeling of responsibility, although young children should always be supervised. Construction paper or the Sunday comics can be used during these cutting exercises.
  
  

Turkey

• You can introduce young children to basic cutting skills by making a Thanksgiving turkey decoration. And adult places the child's hand on construction paper and press the hand flat. An older child can trace their own hand or an adult can help trace the outline of a younger child's hand. Using blunt-ended scissors, the child cuts along the outline of his hand. Once the hand is cut out, he can color the fingers with crayons to resemble feathers. The thumb is the head of the turkey, and he can add a smile and eyes for the turkey face. Your child will enjoy seeing his turkey hand on the refrigerator or hung from a door.
  
  

Hearts

• To practice cutting with paper hearts, an adult can help a child fold a sheet of paper in half, telling her to match the edges of the paper. The adult can show her the shape she needs to draw or draw the outline of half a heart for her along the folded edge of the paper. A smaller heart can be cut out from the center of the large heart if desired by tracing a smaller half a heart inside the first. After the heart is cut and opened, it can be decorated with glue and glitter, or glued over the top of a paper doily. You can use the hearts for cards or hang up during Valentine's Day.
  
  

Chain

• Chain link decorations involve cutting, linking loops together and gluing. This simple exercise is ideal for children inexperienced with using scissors because the chain link shape is a basic rectangle. The finished chain can be used to decorate a Christmas tree, or it can be hung in a child's room to decorate a wall or mirror. Children can choose the sequence of colors.
  
  

Paper Doll Chain

• This craft involves more folding, but most children enjoy the finished chain of dolls holding hands. The craft works best using a piece of paper that is longer than it is wide. The paper should be folded accordion-style, folding the short side of the paper over a few inches, then turning the paper over to fold again on the other side.
  
  Once the paper is folded to the end, someone draws a simple outline of a girl or boy on the top folded panel, making sure the end of hands and feet touch the edges of the fold. Depending on the age of the child, he may need to cut following guidelines drawn by an adult. The child then cuts around the drawn outline. The unfolded chain can be colored in different colors and hung on a cork board or wall. The child may want to name each doll after a friend or family member.