Top Tips for Scissors Skills
I know it sounds obvious, but I always use scissors that will cut, with children! There is nothing more frustrating than blunt scissors if an activity already feels effortful. Close adult supervision is of course essential.
Always make sure your child is sitting at a table with feet supported, for a stable base that lets them use their eyes and hands most effectively. Do not be afraid to show (visually prompt) and then place (physically cue) your child with their placement of their hands on the scissors.
Remember the ‘thumbs up!’ approach: ensuring that the thumb remains on top and not tucked under, with the middle finger placed in the handle loop underneath the thumb. The index finger rests under the scissor blades to better support and guide the cutting activity.
Introduce cutting activities that suit your child’s skill level and grade these up as appropriate. I like to start with simple snipping. Activities can include snipping down and around the top of a cardboard loo roll to make ‘hair’. Snipping requires a single movement of the hand to bring the blades together.
Cutting thicker textures like cardboard that won’t slip might be a helpful precursor to cutting paper. It is also great fun to cut up play doh using scissors.
Cutting in straight lines is the next step and then curved lines. Cutting out shapes which then involves stopping and changing direction, making adjustments to the paper being held is next.
I tend to use thicker guide lines for cutting initially and reduce these as skills improve.
There are many different types of scissors you can try with your child to support the development of their scissors skills.
You can get scissors with a self opening mechanism to support this action: these include the Peta easi grip scissors: tinknstink.co.uk/mini-easi-grip-scissors and these self opening scissors: hope-education.co.uk/product
For children requiring greater support, or for whom using scissors is physically challenging, try scissors on a block. This enables one handed cutting and inclusion: essentialaids.com/work-leisure/scissors/mounted-table-top-scissors-plastic
For younger children the broader handles of these scissors make gripping easier to maintain: Retractable toddler scissors: amazon.co.uk/Safety-Scissors-Retractable-Toddler-Preschool
Using scissors skilfully can take time to develop, but is then a skill for life. By presenting fun, arts and crafts projects for your child, maybe themed around their interests, their skills and mastery will emerge. Happy snipping!
Rachel White
Children’s Occupational Therapist