Using scissors

Scissors skills typically begin to develop in children around the age of 2 years.

There are significant stages of development a child needs to go through before they have the skills required to learn cutting with scissors. These are the ability to:

• combine individual movements of the thumb, index and middle fingers in order to open and close the hand in a ‘scissor’ movement
• coordinate the hands, arms and eye movements in order to cut along lines - see Using my hands advice sheet
• coordinate both hands to work together in order to stabilise the paper whilst using the scissors - see Being able to use both sides of my body advice sheet
• stabilise (keep still) the wrist, elbow and shoulder in order to control the arm and hand movements - see Coordinating my body for play and activities advice sheet

It’s very important to ensure a good, stable sitting position – see Good Seating advice sheet.