Scissor Cutting FAQ

Use the quick links below to jump to answers to your questions on this page.

• How does scissor cutting help develop pencil control?
  
• What is the correct scissor grasp? (How to hold scissors)
  
• What about left-handed kids?
  
• How does a child learn to cut with scissors?
  
• Scissor activities and resources
• References
  

How Does Scissor Cutting Help Develop Pencil Control?

Cutting with a proper scissor grasp, will give the tripod fingers lots of practice in working together, and will help to strengthen your child’s hand muscles.

This will help to improve fine motor skills and will help to give your child the foundations needed to develop pencil control for good handwriting.

Cutting out on a line can also help to strengthen visual-motor skills, which may help improve handwriting.

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What Is The Correct Scissor Grasp? (How To Hold Scissors)

Because we want the tripod fingers to get lots of practice (in preparation for holding the pencil), the thumb, index and middle fingers need to be through the scissor holes. However, the type and size of the holes affects the exact positioning of the fingers.

If your child is just learning to cut, or if your child has weak hands and poor fine motor control, then look for scissors that have a large oval hole that the index and middle fingers can both fit through.

Once your child has gained some mastery of scissor cutting, you can increase the fine motor challenge by using scissors that have just two small round holes. Have your child put the thumb in one hole and the middle finger through the other hole. The index finger then needs to sit on the outside of the scissors to help stabilise the scissors and give more control.

Holding the scissors in this way enables the tripod fingers to work together well.

You can help your child keep the ring and little fingers tucked away by holding a little piece of paper under them. Keeping the ring and little fingers tucked away develops "ulnar stability" , which basically gives the side of the hand more stability, which frees the tripod fingers up to move more accurately.

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What About Left-handed Kids?

Left-handed children should always cut with their left hand, using left-handed scissors.

Left handed scissors are vital to enabling them to cut successfully. This is important as it helps them to make their dominant hand strong and specialized.

So-called “ambidextrous scissors” are a marketing ploy – it is not the comfort of the handles that makes scissors left-handed/right-handed, it is the way the blades are fixed.

Common Scissor Cutting Issues For Lefties

• A left handed child who uses the right hand for scissor cutting is missing out on strengthening and refining the left hand muscles in preparation for handwriting.
  
  
• A left-handed child who uses right-handed scissors in the left hand, may end up holding the paper or the scissors awkwardly in order to see the line properly, and this may result in untidy cutting.

If you are trying to get to grips with helping your left handed child, then visit this site designed especially to help left-handers (opens in a new window).

Or check out the range of scissors that also come in left handed versions, from PFOT.

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How Does A Child Learn To Cut With Scissors?

It is best to teach these two skills separately, and help your child to get the hang of opening and closing scissors before attempting any "proper" cutting out.

Head over to my detailed page to teach your child how to use scissors. Lots of photos and tips abound!

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Scissor Activities And Resources

Scissor Cutting Resources from PFOT

PFOT stock a range of self opening, adapted and other special resources that are designed to help kids who struggle with scissor cutting. Check out their resources here!

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Related Pages On My Site

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References

Mitchell, A. W., Hampton, C., Hanks, M., Miller, C., & Ray, N. (2012). Influence of task and tool characteristics on scissor skills in typical adults. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, e89–e97. https://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2012.004135

Ratcliffe, I., Concha, M. & Franzsen, D. (2007). Analysis of cutting skills in four and six year olds attending nursery schools in Johannesburg. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 37. 4-9.

Ratcliffe, I., Franzsen, D., & Bischof, F. (2010). Development of a scissors skills programme for grade 0 children in South Africa - A pilot study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 41. 24-31.

Smith, Barbara A. MS, OTR/L. From Rattles to Writing – A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills. 2011. Therapro Inc.

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