The first pair of scissors a small child can be handed without a second thought. Faber-Castell developed the Little Creatives range with early childhood teachers, and these guarded blades do what a three year old needs them to do and nothing else: they part paper and modelling dough, and they will not cut skin, hair or clothing. The tips are rounded, so the fear comes out of learning and the concentration goes in.

The handle is sized for small fingers and works either way round, which means one pair suits a left handed child and a right handed one, and a nursery table does not need two sets. Cutting along a line is one of the first jobs that builds real hand strength, hand eye coordination and the fine motor control that has to come before a pencil can be held properly.

One pair, on a recyclable card. Faber-Castell marks it age 3 and up.