Children start to learn how to use scissors at about 2 years old. They will get better quickly and move from simple movements to more precise skills. Before they can use scissors well, they need to develop certain skills first.
Important skills needed
Here are the skills children need before they can start cutting with scissors:
- Move their thumb, index, and middle fingers separately
- Coordinate hands, arms, and eyes together
- Keep their wrist, elbow, and shoulder steady
- Use both hands together in a coordinated way
Activities to help
- Pick-up games – use tongs and tweezers to pick up small objects.
- Squeezing games – use water pistols, basters, etc., to squirt liquid.
- Dot-to-dot and Puzzles.
- Ball games.
- Finding hidden objects in a picture.
- Matching games like snap and picture lotto.
- Push-ups and Wall push-offs.
- Activities on all fours, like animal walks and rocking.
- Monkey bars or climbing frames.
- Playing on the tummy.
- Playing with silly putty or Playdough.
- Rough and tumble play.
- Threading beads and buttons.
- Cooking – kneading dough, rolling, and using shape cutters.
- Building toys like Duplo, Lego, and Sticklebricks.
- Action songs using two hands, like ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’.
Learning to use scissors
Once children have the skills needed for using scissors, they can start learning to cut. Follow these stages, moving on only when they have learned the previous one. Make sure the scissors are child-friendly and always supervise them.
Stage one
Children show an interest in scissors. They try to bring the scissors and paper together and imitate a cutting action.
Stage two
Children learn to hold and move the scissors correctly.
Stage three
Children learn to open and close the scissors in a controlled way. If they find it hard to cut paper, try cutting Playdough sausages or straws.
Stage four
Children hold paper in one hand and scissors in the other. They make short, random snips with the scissors.
Stage five
Children learn to cut in a forward motion. Create a mark or goal on the paper for them to aim towards.
Stage six
Children continue to cut in a forward motion but now stay on a line. Start with a thick line and gradually make it thinner.
Stage seven
Children learn to cut out simple shapes like squares and triangles. Let them practise a lot and encourage them. Move on to circles and semi-circles once they are confident with straight lines.
Stage eight
Children learn to cut out figure shapes. At first, they keep the scissors straight and turn the paper. As they get better, they hold the paper still and turn the scissors.
Scissor specialist equipment available from online retailers
| Scissor | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mounted tabletop scissors | To support children with the use of the functional side of their body |
| Long loop scissor | Allows the strength Of middle, ring and little finger to be used whilst the index finger is placed outside the loop and used for guidance |
| Dual control training scissor | Double loop allows teacher and child to cut at the same time. |
| Easy grip scissors | Continuous loop plastic handle automatically reopens the scissors when pressure is released. |
| Mini Easy grip scissors | For smaller hands. Can be used right or left |
| Self-opening scissors | Looks like normal scissors but have a spring to automatically reopen after pressure is released |
| Scissor | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mounted tabletop scissors | To support children with the use of the functional side of their body |
| Long loop scissor | Allows the strength Of middle, ring and little finger to be used whilst the index finger is placed outside the loop and used for guidance |
| Dual control training scissor | Double loop allows teacher and child to cut at the same time. |
| Easy grip scissors | Continuous loop plastic handle automatically reopens the scissors when pressure is released. |
| Mini Easy grip scissors | For smaller hands. Can be used right or left |
| Self-opening scissors | Looks like normal scissors but have a spring to automatically reopen after pressure is released |