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Tip for supporting scissor skills: learning how to snip with scissors

Learn to snip with scissors
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Snipping paper is an essential first step to start cutting. There are many essential skills that children need when they are learning how to snip. 

Difficulties you might see when students are learning to snip:

  • Holding the scissors with their forearm in pronation (with palm floor). This prevents students from cutting as the scissors are facing at an angle where it is hard to cut with scissors. 
  • Being unable to open and close the scissors. Students may keep the scissors closed and be unable to open the scissors to cut. This could be due to the fact that children have not developed the motor pattern of opening and closing their fingers. They may have difficulty with motor planning and figuring out how to make their fingers move open and close. 

The first step is to start without scissors. What? This sounds counterintuitive. However, starting with scissors can be very, very, challenging for young students. It is essential to work on activities that support snipping. 

Activities related to flexion and extension of their fingers. 

While children are performing these activities, have them hold a stabilizing object with their non-dominant hand to mimic holding paper. Make sure students are using good form. 

  • Have your child use tweezers in their dominant hand to transfer mini erasers to a container that is being held by their non-dominant hand.
  • Use all different types of tools that open and close, such as clothespins, chip clip bags, chopsticks that have rubbers bands to hold the sticks together etc
  • Playing finger movement songs such as baby shark (opening and closing their fingers)
  • Picking up items with clothespins
  • Using their fingers to pinch small objects, and then releasing the objects.   

Activities that promote having a neutral forearm (thumb going up)

  • Scooping items using a spoon. 
  • Using a play spatula to carry pretend food or a bean bag
  • Using clothespins, tweezers, etc 
  • Toys that promote isolation of thumb movement (ie: toy unicorn that opens it’s mouth)
  • Finger play: Where is thumpkin?
  • Practicing making thumbs up
Once children start to develop these skills, incorporate FUN, INTERACTIVE snipping pages into their routines. For example, snip the coins and put them on the piggy bank or snip the apples and put them on the tree. As a bonus, children will also be working on an important language skill: prepositions (ie: in, on, next to etc) Click here to download this resource in my store!  
 
Snipping pages Snipping pages fish in fishbowl


Looking for more scissor skill tips? Check out my blog post about learning how to stabilize paper while cutting! 

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DISCLAIMER: Elizabeth Kosek is a Licensed Occupational Therapist , but is in no way representing herself as such with the content of this blog or through her resources. By using this website or any resources, you agree that this activity is not intended to replace skilled therapy services, consultation, treatments and does not replace the advice of a physician or occupational therapist. Speak with your physician or OT if you have questions. Information provided should not be used for diagnostic or training purposes. Stop any activity if you are unsure about a child’s reaction or ability. Empowering OT is not liable for any injury, accident, or incident that may occur when creating or replicating any of the activities or ideas found on this blog or contained within any resource provided here.