Pre-scissor Skills: Opening and Closing Hands

Parents, do you remember placing your finger into the palm of your baby's hand? They sweetly wrap their fingers around your finger and you go "awww, their holding me!"

This first "grasp" pattern seen in babies at birth is a primitive "grasp reflex".  It only lasts for about four months, however it prepares babies for voluntary grasp and release patterns. 

Grasp and release patterns are an important part of early child development.   At about four months, babies are reaching for objects with a momentary grasp and by about nine months babies are learning to release objects voluntarily (Parks, 1996).

Coordinated grasp and release skills (and therefore the opening and closing action of your child's hand) are  important for the development of scissor skills.  Children need to be able to hold scissors and guide them to  open and close as they cut across paper.

You can use the following activities to encourage children with "opening and closing hands".

• Play finger rhymes and sing action songs (for example: Open Shut Them, 5 Little Ducks, Round and Round the Garden).  For more finger rhymes refer to this FREE printable.
• Play with hand puppets where the hand can open and close the puppet's mouth to talk or sing.
• Use tongs or tweezers to pick up small objects such as pom poms, cotton balls, ping pong balls, etc.
• Use scissor tongs that are specifically designed with handles similar to scissors, which allow the child to pick up small objects using the "ball" at the end (refer to photograph above).
• Incorporate clothespins (pegs) into games and craft activities.
• Squeeze spray bottles filled with water or paint.
• Use eye-droppers or turkey basters to mix colours or move water.
• Squeeze bath toys to squirt water.

Cindy 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.

Parks, S. (1996). HELP strands: curriculum-based developmental assessment: birth to three years. Palo Alto, CA: VORT Corp.

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