Cutting involves many skills including bilateral integration, visual-motor integration, postural control, fine motor skills, and visual perceptual skills.

The following is a list of tips to help a child as he/she learns to use scissors:

• Be aware of the position the child is in prior to beginning a cutting activity. Make sure he/she is seated in an upright position with his/her feet flat on the floor.
• The child should grasp the scissor in his/her dominant hand with his/her thumb in one loop and middle finger in the second loop. The index finger should be wrapped around the scissor. The ring finger and pinky should be flexed into the palm.
• If the child has difficulty keeping the ring finger and pinky flexed, he/she may hold a cotton ball or small sponge under these fingers to facilitate separation of the two sides of the hand.
• Begin practicing cutting using more firm material such as clay and/or thicker paper such as construction paper.
• It may be helpful to highlight the line the child is cutting on.

Use the following sequence when helping a child learn to cut:

1. Snip paper

2. Cut across a piece of paper

3. Cut on a straight line across a piece of paper

4. Cut on a curved or angled line across a piece of paper

5. Cut out large simple shapes (circle, square, triangle)

6. Cut out large abstract shapes

7. Cut smaller simple shapes

8. Cut smaller abstract shapes

At first, help the child hold the paper when cutting. As he/she improves, encourage your child to hold the paper in his/her non-dominant hand with his/her thumb securing the paper against the palm. The non-dominant hand should be help with the palm facing the ceiling. T his may be referred to the "helping hand thumb on top".

Activities involving the following materials help build muscles needed for cutting and improves the ability to separate the two sides of the hand:

• Clothespins
• Hole punchers
• Thumb stamps
• Spray bottles
• Tweezers.

If a child has limited range of motion in his/her hands an adapted scissor may be appropriate. Consult with the occupational therapist to determine possible modifications.