Children love to create and decorate, and making a paper chain combines these in one activity because it allows them to create something fun and then show off their creation at home. Making paper chain links helps younger children learn how to use a scissors to cut paper. Provide your children with some bright-colored construction paper and some appropriate scissors and help them make some colorful paper chain links.
Draw parallel lines 1 inch apart across a piece of construction paper. These lines will be the cutting lines for your child. Draw lines on each colored sheet of construction paper to make as many colored strips as desired.
2
Give your child a pair of safety scissors with rounded tips and show him how to use them if necessary. Have your child cut the paper strips along the cutting lines you made in step 1. Cut all of the strips from all of the colors of construction paper.
3
Sort the different colored strips into piles separated by color.
4
Make the first paper chain link by selecting a colored strip. Place a dab of glue onto one end with the glue stick and make the strip into a circle. Place the end without glue over the end with glue and overlap the ends by about 1/2-inch. Make sure the link is secure.
5
Choose another color strip for the second link and make the link in the same fashion as in step 4 except connect the links by placing the second link through the first link before gluing the ends.
6
Continue making and adding links in whatever color pattern you choose until your paper link chain is the desired length.
7
Find a prominent spot and hang your paper chain.
Tips & Warnings
If desired, you can write on the strips before you make them into links. Making a "thankful chain" by writing all of the things a child is thankful for onto the strips is one idea. You could also make a "favorites chain" and write all of your child's favorite things onto the strips.
Always use child-safety scissors with young children and supervise their cutting carefully.
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