Scissor Skills for Preschoolers: How to Start and What to Practice

Cutting with scissors is a skill that takes practice. It builds hand strength and coordination that help later with writing. Most children enjoy it when it is taught in small steps and kept short and playful.

Get the grip right

Choose child-safe scissors that fit a small hand. Show your child to hold them with the thumb in the small loop and one or two fingers in the big loop, with the thumb pointing up. A good reminder is to say thumbs up. The other hand holds the paper and turns it as they cut.

Start with snipping

Give your child a thin strip of paper and let them make a single snip. Then let them snip a few times along the strip. Snipping teaches the open and close movement. The little pieces can be used as confetti or for a collage.

Move to straight lines

Draw or print a thick dashed line and let your child cut along it. At first they will cut beside the line, and that is fine. As control improves, the line can get thinner. Do not worry about being exact.

Add curves and corners

After straight lines, move to wavy lines, zigzags, curves and loops. Zigzags are good for teaching how to turn the paper. Corners and steps come next, then spirals, which are the hardest. Introduce one new type at a time, and go back to an easier one when frustration shows.

Cut out shapes

When your child can cut lines comfortably, move to shapes. A circle is harder than a square, because the paper must turn all the time. A shape cut-out can be glued into a matching outline, which also helps with shape recognition and gluing.

Build hand strength

• Play with playdough or clay.
• Squeeze a sponge in the bath.
• Use tongs to move pom-poms.
• Do dot marker pages.
• Tear paper into pieces.

Keep it safe and short

Always supervise children when they use scissors. Keep sessions to five or ten minutes, and sit with your child so you can help with the grip. Make a spot for scissors that is out of reach when you are not there.

Printable scissor skills pack

Our Scissor Skills and Fine Motor Pack has 8 cutting pages, cut and paste shapes, pattern strips, prewriting strokes, dab circles and an adult progress checklist. Try some pages with the free scissor skills sample.

You can also browse every free sample on the Free Printables page, or see all digital downloads.