10 Practical Ways to Teach Scissor Skills to Kids!

Scissor Skills, what is the point? Why bother?

Have you been receiving my emails about THE SCISSOR SKILLS BOOK and being wondering, why even teach kids to cut?

Some children love creating and experimenting.  They love picking up scissors and cut anything they can get their hands on.  They love craft and collages. 

And yet...

There are some children who may have scissors presented to them at home, in their child care setting or at school... and yet never choose to pick those scissors up and try them!

Just an aside... did you ever sit in algebra class in school and wonder "what is the point of this?" or may be for you it was studying Shakespeare or reading Jane Austen (although our friendship will be tested if you say this is you), for others it is sport... What is the point? Why bother?

I'm all about practical!

What is the point of using scissors? Why both teaching scissor skills?

It is so beneficial when teaching a skill, to show the practical ways that these skills may be used.  How can this skill be applied to everyday life? What is the point? What is the purpose? Why?

10 Practical Ways to Teach Scissor Skills to Kids!

1. By example!
For children, it is important for them to see YOU using scissors! They may watch you cutting up a BBQ chicken, cutting up material for sewing, cutting a string to tie a package, cutting/pruning the garden, cutting a pizza into slices, cutting nails with nail scissors, cutting flowers to put into a vase... and the list goes on.

Now over to the kids to try their hand at using scissors for themselves in every day activities.

2. Use scissors to open packaging.
Open packaging for cookies, crisps, candy, new pyjamas, envelopes or a new game.

3. Use scissors to gift wrap.
Involve your child in gift wrapping for all those birthday parties they are invited to.  Involve them in choosing the wrap, ribbon, tissue paper or cellophane.  Have them manipulate the scissors to cut the paper.  Draw a line for them to cut and fold the paper at the same point.  Early scissor users can do the "snip" required to cut ribbon/string.

4. Use scissors to cut off price tags or clothing tags from new purchases.
An easy "snip" to cut off these tags. They will be motivated especially if the new item is for them, however it is also great when the new item is a gift which is then wrapped for a friend or family member.

5. Use scissors to cut larger paper so you can make note paper.
You could turn this into a game of "postman" by making simple cardboard "post boxes" for members of the family.  Have your child cut large paper into pieces depending on their ability.  You could start with a snip off a long strip or fold the paper to create "shapes" such a large triangle. Alternatively the note paper could be used to write down a shopping list or things to do list for your child.

6.  Use scissors to cut wax or grease proof paper from a roll to wrap a sandwich.
Have your child help to cut kitchen paper and them wrap their sandwich or roll.

7. Use scissors to cut sticky or masking tape.
Leave the dispenser aside and have your child make the "snip" to cut sticky tape or masking tape.

8. Use scissors to cut out a clipping from a magazine or newspaper so it can be kept.
You could find things of interest to your child (eg. they might love dogs) or you might pick a theme like colours, shapes, textures to find and cut out.  Depending on your child's ability, you may want to draw a shape around the image for cutting.  You could also cut out interesting "letters" from the newspaper to spell out words or names!

9. Use scissors to cut up old receipts (or paper grocery bags).
Put the "shredder" aside and have your kids help to "cut up" old receipts or documents! There is no "right" or "wrong" with this sort of "cutting"!  Place all the "cuttings" in the recycling bin or use the cuttings to make a sensory bin (slowly adding it each time there is "cutting practise") where you can hide objects to find.

10.  Use scissors to cut out "coupons".
Some households cut out and collect "coupons" more than others.  Even if you are not one who would normally cut out coupons, this is an excellent way to encourage scissors skills in a practical way.  Coupons are usually rectangular or square in shape (not always) so they are the perfect shapes to work on manipulation of the page (turning).


Using scissors is a complex skill that we take for granted as adults.  Would your child be more "engaged" with learning how to use scissors when shown how they are used in a practical context?

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Next week, we look at how to help children who have difficulty with their "pencil pressure" when they are writing!

I hope you join me again!

Cindy  Chuan is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia.  She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun.

Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.

Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this article to promote products that I recommend. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale.   Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand.

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