Westcott Safety-Edge Left & Right Hand 5-Inch Student Scissors, 12-Pack

Whether you are a classroom teacher stocking up on supplies or a parent purchasing school supplies to send in with a student, you’ll need to make sure your shopping list includes a quality pair of scissors that is both safe and easy to use.

First, consider the age group of the child you are shopping for. Students’ scissors have different designs for various age groups. You’ll find starter scissors work well for small crafters. The inner blades on these scissors aren’t sharp. They may open at a minimal angle that isn’t wide enough to fit a finger into. Many also have a spring-action design that automatically opens the scissors after each cut, allowing children to focus on just developing the skills to close them.

Most student scissors start at a length of 2.5 inches and max out at 9 inches, a good size for older kids and adults. You’ll find the tips of the scissors’ blades are blunt when the products are designed for preschoolers and kindergarteners, but pointed for elementary and middle school-aged children.

Make sure you’re purchasing scissors that your child can use. Some are designed for right-handers, while others are made for kids who write, draw and cut with their left hands. Of course, many models will have symmetrical handles that work well for both right and left-handed users. These are an excellent choice for teachers who may have a combination of right and left-handed students in their classroom.

Check the construction of the student scissors you’d like to purchase. You want the pair to be lightweight yet durable, with a strong and stable pivot screw. Most feature stainless steel blades to easily cut through paper, string, ribbon or photos. That means they will work well for most classroom crafts.

You can also purchase a pair of scissors made with high-performance titanium-bonded blades. These blades are corrosion-resistant and three times as strong as their stainless steel counterparts. They even remain sharp through 100,000 cuts!

An ergonomic handle is also a must, as you want the scissors to be comfortable to hold. Most models feature a large finger loop with a smaller thumb loop. Some makers add a rubber soft grip on the handle to reduce hand fatigue.

As you’re shopping for student’s scissors, consider your child’s favorite color. Scissors are sold in a variety of bright colors, like red, blue, purple, pink, yellow and turquoise. Teachers can order packs of scissors that come with multiple color options.

• Some students’ scissors are designed to be multipurpose, meaning they can also be used at home to complete sewing projects or at the office to cut through packaging materials. Others are strong and sharp enough to cut through burlap and leather, making them perfect for cutting patterns, quilting and even making homemade leather jewelry.  
• Student scissors make for excellent back-to-school, Christmas or birthday gifts, especially if the child in your home has a love of all things arts and crafts.
• To keep your student scissors functioning at their best, you’ll need to have the blades sharpened once per year. If the pair has a metal pivot screw, you can also add a drop of oil at the point of the screw.
• Consider purchasing a plastic storage container to organize your child’s school supplies. They make containers that are small enough to fit inside a desk, but large enough to accommodate a pair of scissors, a set of pencils, extra erasers and even a ruler.