Cutting is tricky! Not only do our kids need to use both their hands doing completely different actions – one hand opening and closing and the other manoeuvring what’s being cut, but we usually also want them to cut on a line as best they can. AND usually within a loud classroom environment!

Consider the following when supporting the development of your child’s cutting skills:

Provide hand over hand assistance with your child if required. This allows them to get used to the correct way of holding scissors and how to open and close them.

Prompt your child to hold the scissors properly. This means the thumb is always ‘up’ and they can use one or two scissors in the bottom hole of the scissors. Some easy ways to remind your child to hold their scissors properly is

• Say to them: Thumbs up! This should remind them to keep their thumb at the top
• If they are using too many fingers in the bottom hole place a small piece of foam from a dishwashing sponge in their hand. Have them hold this in place with the other two or three fingers, which stops them from using these fingers for cutting.

Start with cutting shapes and line that are thicker lines and slowly work down to thinner lines. From here you can continue to gradually and gently ease your child into more tricky cutting obstacles.

Use your imagination! Cutting different items found provides your child with more information about how to hold scissors and how hard they need to press down in order to cut. This all assists them in learning more about cutting. Household objects like sponges, different types and textures of paper, newspaper, toilet paper, playdough, drinking straws, grasses and plants.

Consider what size and type of scissors you are providing your child to use and if these are appropriate for their current developmental level of cutting skills. As you transition your child to ‘grown up’ scissors provided them with visuals to support them with the transition.

The development of cutting skills is complex and it is important to consider the whole body and whole this is influencing your child’s fine motor skills and bilateral hand coordination. If you have any concerns get in touch with an occupational therapist who can walk you through each step.

Written by Alannah Santomartino, Occupational Therapist.