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Developing Cutting Skills

This document outlines four stages of developing cutting skills in children. Stage 1 focuses on proper hand positioning and opening/closing scissors. Stage 2 introduces snipping paper. Stage 3 teaches cutting in a single direction and along a line. Stage 4 builds on previous skills and adds cutting corners and curves, which requires more hand movement coordination. The developmental norms for each stage are provided to guide skill progression. Thumb placement, hand positioning, and verbal cues are emphasized throughout.

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Kelly Nardi Dube
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345 views2 pages

Developing Cutting Skills

This document outlines four stages of developing cutting skills in children. Stage 1 focuses on proper hand positioning and opening/closing scissors. Stage 2 introduces snipping paper. Stage 3 teaches cutting in a single direction and along a line. Stage 4 builds on previous skills and adds cutting corners and curves, which requires more hand movement coordination. The developmental norms for each stage are provided to guide skill progression. Thumb placement, hand positioning, and verbal cues are emphasized throughout.

Uploaded by

Kelly Nardi Dube
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Skill Set 2: Perceptual Motor

Developing Cutting Skills


Children should progress through the following Stages 1 to 4 in order to develop good cutting skills.

Stage 1
 hildren learn to hold scissors appropriately and to C open and close scissors.
Children learn to place their thumb in the top ring of the scissors and their two or three fingers in the bottom ring. At this early stage it is recommended that adults prompt children to produce the thumbs up sign before taking hold of the scissors. If students require muscle strengthening or hand coordination practice, play a game of Open Shut Them! Thumb in the top ring of the scissors.

Developmental Norms For Children Learning To Cut With Scissors


At age 2 - 2 years... Child is able to open and shut scissors with two hands.

Thumbs Up
Prompt children to produce the thumbs up sign before taking hold of the scissors.

Two or three fingers in the bottom ring of the scissors.

Stage 2
Children learn to hold and snip paper.
Children learn to hold the paper in their non-cutting hand and to open the scissors, push the blade forward and shut the scissors resulting in snips to paper. Remember Thumps Up.

Developmental Norm
At age 2 - 3 years...  Child is able to snip paper. Child holds scissors in one hand (dominant hand is not likely established at this stage). The paper may be held by an adult.

To Make Snips...
Open the scissors. Push the blades forward. Shut the scissors.

old lt may h The adu ded. er if nee the pap

A Note About Dominance


Research suggests that the majority of children show a dominant preference by 3 years and most by school age, however some actually establish dominance as late as 8 or 9 years old. Making a preference is important as it allows the child to develop skill and endurance with that hand. If a child has not yet made a preference, it is suggested that the child be encouraged to participate in activities: that involve crossing the midline, that use both hands together, where both are active and  where one hand does the work and the other one assists. Dont try to choose the dominant hand but observe which hand is used the most often or is more skilful. It may also be helpful to refer the child to an Occupational Therapist for an assessment, prior to commencing year one.
PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Thumb in the top ring. Thumb up on paper.

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Developing Cutting Skills continued.

Stage 3
Children learn to cut in a single direction and to cut along a line.
Children learn to hold the paper in their non-cutting hand with their thumb placed on the upside of the paper. With scissors held appropriately (i.e. thumbs up) children cut towards a target. Some children will need verbal guidance (e.g. Open them, push them forward, open them, push them forward.) so that they understand how to apply the previously learned snipping technique.

Developmental Norms
At age 3 - 4 years... Child is able to cut a 10cm piece of paper  in approximate halves. No line is placed on the paper. At age 3 - 4 years... Child is able to cut along a 10cm straight  line. Their cut line should not be wider than 1.7cm. Child holds the paper with their thumb on the top.

Some children may need adult verbal guidance.


Open the scissors. Push the scissors forward. Open the scissors. Push the scissors forward. Shut the scissors at the end.

Remember Thumbs Up for both hands.

Thumb in the top ring.

Stage 4
Children learn to cut corners and curves.
In addition to increased cutting line accuracy, cutting tasks require a significant amount of supporting hand movement. As cutting becomes more complex, children may be inclined to want to turn their scissor cutting hand rather than turning the paper. Model how to turn the paper with Thumbs Up on the non-cutting hand. The tinted thumbs on the worksheets help to indicate the repositioning of the hand when turning the paper. The adult may also like to give verbal guidance by saying Turn the paper. The following resource displays examples for hand movements while cutting shapes. It also contains multiple worksheets for practising cutting skills.

Developmental Norms
At age 4 - 5 years... Child is able to cut along a curved line. Their cut line should not be wider than 1cm. At age 4 - 5 years... Child is able to cut out a range of squares (and with sides measuring as small as 8cm). Their cut line should not be wider than 1cm. At age 4 - 5 years... Child is able to cut out a range of triangles (and with sides measuring as small as 8cm). Their cut line should not be wider than 1cm. At age 4 - 5 years... Child is able to cut out a range of circles (and with diameters measuring as small as 12cm). Their cut line should not be wider than 1cm. At age 4 - 5 years... Child is able to cut out a range of large, simple shapes while staying within a line that is 0.6cm wide. At age 5 - 6 years... Child is able to cut around corners (with wide angles) while staying within a line that is 0.6cm wide. The child is also able to manoeuvre their noncutting hand to support the cutting. At age 5 - 6 years... Child is able to cut along curves while staying within a line that is 0.6cm wide. The child is also able to manoeuvre their non-cutting hand to support the cutting. At age 5 - 6 years... Child requires frequent practise to consolidate their cutting skills.

Resource is from Skill Set 2: Perceptual Motor

Available from www.pld-literacy.org

160 Stirling Highway Nedlands WA 6009, Australia Tel: +61 (08) 9386 7611 Fax: +61 (08) 9389 7232 www.pld-literacy.org [email protected] PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

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