Learning to use scissors

Dec 10

Cutting is a complex skill that requires motor control, hand strength and eye-hand coordination. It also requires attention to detail, patience, practice, and proper positioning.

Many students in their preschool years experience challenges trying to hold a pair of scissors, determine how to open and close the scissor blades, move the scissors forward, stay on a line, and use their helper hand to hold and manipulate the paper.

Why do scissor skills matter

✔ When children practice cutting they strengthen the little muscles in their hands with the open and closed motion. The muscles that create this movement are also key for printing and doing everyday tasks like eating with utensils and getting dressed.

✔ Cutting requires kids to use their eyes and hands together. Eye hand coordination is important for playing catch, enjoying a bowl of soup with a spoon, or zipping up a sweatshirt.

✔ Cutting also encourages a child to use both sides of the body at the same time, while each hand also performs its own task. When cutting, a child must hold the paper with one hand and the other has to perform the duties of moving the scissors. These skills are essential for tasks like opening and closing a zippered lunch bag or washing a dish.

✔ Cutting takes concentration and attention to detail. Both skills are necessary for success not only in the classroom but in everyday life.

Components of the ideal scissor positioning

Both thumbs are up

Fingers in the large hole

Thumb in the small hole

Elbows by side

Cut away from the body, not across

Hold paper with the helper hand

download resource sheet

Common Challenges:

Poor shoulder and arm positioning

You will observe:
The elbow is positioned out like a chicken wing and not resting close to the body.
The wrist is flexed/ hooked.
The shoulder is elevated, positioned up close to the ear.

Kids who haven’t fully developed shoulder stability almost always have a tough time cutting. They will compensate by elevating their shoulders, holding their elbows in the air, and twisting their wrists awkwardly. We have all seen this!

Shoulder stability is the ability to keep your shoulder joint still while moving your fingers. Little kids who are still developing fine motor control have learned to compensate by using their whole arm. Toddlers do this naturally, and older kids often revert to this when hands and fingers get tired (seen both in drawing and cutting).

Difficulties establishing a proper scissor grasp.

You will observe:
The thumbs are facing the floor or cutting surface not the ceiling.
All four fingers are in the large loop of the scissors.

Sometimes a child has difficulty separating the two sides of their hand, meaning that they keep their index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers together. This doesn’t allow for proper movement of the thumb, which isn’t great for grasping a pencil or using utensils.

Typical development of cutting abilities.

AGE

2.5 years
3+ years
3.5-4 years
4-5 years
4.5 years +

SKILL

Single snipping
Forward consecutive cutting
Cutting on a 1/4” line
Cutting on the 1/4” line of a circle
Cutting on the 1/4” line of a square

Activities that work on the open and close motion of the hand.

Squirt bottles
Eye droppers
Clothes pins
A single hole punch
Zip lock bag sealing
Finger game songs
Finger counting activities.

How to begin…

Show young students what scissors can do and what they can’t do.
Supervise, model and guide.
Encourage thumbs up and use of the helper hand.
Use scissors that fit the child’s hand.
Sit at a child sized table.
Start with snipping the paper before trying to move the scissors forward.
Cut different materials. Snip straws, putty, and thick paper.
After snipping move onto thick lines.
Constantly and consistently reinforce proper positioning and posture.
Use visuals to support and reinforce positioning.
Use adapted tools like loop scissors when needed.

Connect with Path.

If you would benefit from other cutting visuals, strategy sheets or playful and fun ways to enhance cutting skills in your home or classroom please be in touch. We would love to help you out.

Connect with PATH

References: The strategies and positioning recommendations discussed in this article are a summary of years of learning and growing with fellow occupational therapists. Information from the OT Tool Box was used to support discussion on cutting challenges and the importance of scissor skills.