Top Tip: Scissor Skills "Thumbs on Top"!

Where is thumbkin?  Where is thumbkin?  Here I am, here I am! 

"Thumbs on top" is my top tip for teaching scissor skills.

​Both the hand holding the scissors and the hand holding the page need to have their thumbs on top. This allows for forward cutting and for manipulation of the paper (or whatever that is being cut).  Early "cutters" will move their wrists and hands in all positions ... encourage them to keep their thumbs on top and have their scissors pointing forward.  Over time we want the non-dominant hand to manipulate the paper (turn it) so that the scissors are always pointing forward (away from the child's body). 

​It's important for children to know which finger is their thumb and it can be important to highlight it for your child.  

Ways to "highlight" the thumb!
* play games where the thumb is vital such as "thumb wars" ---> Take me to more on Thumb Wars
* name the "thumb" when your child is gripping things like a cup, cutlery, toy steering wheel, finger food, playing an instrument
* place a sticker or temporary tattoo on the thumb (you could also place the sticker on the scissors so they know which part is "up".
* sing finger rhymes such as "Where is thumbkin?" or "Incy Wincy Spider" 
* use nail polish to distinguish thumbs
* play with finger puppets
* play "heads down, thumbs up" - This is a group game where one child is "in" and leaves the room.  Someone (or a few children) in the group is nominated as the ones to find.  Everyone then places their heads on the table with their hands fisted on the table and thumbs up.  The child who was outside of the room comes back in and has a certain number of guesses to find the nominated child/ren.  They choose children by folding over their thumbs.  When all the selections are made, someone says "heads up, stand up" and the ones chosen who match with the nominated ones at the beginning stand up.  Someone new is chosen to be "in" to be the next to guess. 

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Watch Top Tips: Scissor Skills "Thumbs on Top" on you-tube with a behind the scenes look at the new scissor skills printables ---> Take me to the video online! (if you can't see this attachment in your email or browser).

Once your child's thumbs are in position, they can start to open and close the scissors. Choosing the correct scissors for your child is also important.  Blunt craft scissors are great for cutting playdough but are not much use when it comes to paper.  These are often introduced as safety scissors for toddlers, however they can become quite frustrating when they don't actually cut. 

​If your child has developed a hand preference, it is also important for the scissors to be chosen which are specifically left or right-handed scissors.  Usually scissors which are promoted for "both hands" have the blades on the scissors to be more effective for right-handed users.  This can also be frustrating if you have a "lefty". 

Scissors that have a centre piece that allow for a "bounce" can help with the open/close action.  This is often one of the first difficulties that arise for young scissor users as they can quite easily "shut" their hand to close the scissors but they can't "open" their hand again to make the next cut. If you can't find these type of scissors (check the video link for a look at what I'm talking about) then placing your own hand over your child's hand with your third finger "dangerously" placed between the scissor handles (not the blades) ... this will give you a way of physically helping with the "opening part".... ​
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Find more articles on scissor skills:
* 10 Practical Ways to Practice Scissor Skills
* Developing hand strength for Scissor Skills
* Pre-scissor skills (Opening and Closing Hands)
* Scissor Skills Busy Boxes

Find new printables for scissor skills:
* Make a Zoo
* Interactive Fun
* Cut and Paste Words
* Cut and Paste Sentences

If you missed the link above, you can have a closer look at these printables in the You-tube video ---> Printables in action

What are your top tips for scissor skills? 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a member of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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