logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Childcare Providers
  • Learning Center
  • Get BabySparks
  • en
    • es
Prev
Why do toddlers whine 0
Why Do Toddlers Whine?
16 January 2020
Next
Late talking linked to severe tantrums 0
Study Finds Correlation Between Late-Talkers and Severe Tantrums
21 January 2020
Fine Motor
The Evolution of Scissor Skills
16 January, 2020 by BabySparks in Fine Motor
Toddler scissor skills

Your child should be able to hold and use scissors when she reaches kindergarten (even if she doesn’t yet cut a straight line), so there’s no better time to practice this important skill than now. Toddlers can hold and manipulate toys and objects, which is all they need to start holding and using scissors. Teaching your toddler to use scissors now can strengthen the hand and finger muscles she’ll need to hold a pencil or play an instrument.

Highlights: 

  • Children should be able to hold and use scissors by kindergarten, which makes toddlerhood a great time to practice this skill. 
  • Being able to use scissors requires fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, the ability to focus, and good posture. 
  • Scissor skills evolve in the following ways: 
    • 25-27 Months – Learning to open and close scissors safely with both hands.
    • 28-30 Months – Begin opening and closing scissors with one hand. 
    • 31-33 Months – With assistance, can snip paper. 
    • 34-36 Months – May not be able to cut in a straight line, but can guide the paper with one hand and use scissors with the other. 
  • Check out the BabySparks program’s fine motor activities to help nurture this skill. 

The Awe Behind Scissor Skills

Holding, opening, and closing scissors are things older kids and adults do without putting too much thought into each step. But babies and toddlers have to think about the process, consciously putting effort into figuring out how to hold scissors and how to move them to make a cut.

Scissor skills are actually quite impressive if you think about it! Being able to use scissors requires:

  • Fine motor skills (coordinating fingers, hands, and wrists to work together)
  • Hand-eye coordination to move the scissors along a line
  • Ability to focus on the task in order to keep the scissors on a line
  • Good posture to sit up straight and hold the scissors and paper properly
  • Coordination between both sides of the body, or bilateral coordination, to hold and manipulate the scissors with one hand, and the paper with the other.

That’s a lot of work! Your toddler won’t master each of these skills during toddlerhood but will continue developing each piece for a few more years, usually through age 6.

How Scissor Skills Develop During Toddlerhood

During your baby’s first two years, she learns a lot of necessary skills she’ll need to start working with scissors, like:

  • Sitting up by herself
  • Making small, precise movements with her hands and fingers, like turning the pages of a book
  • Manipulating small objects with her hands, like opening a snack bar wrapper or moving toy cars around a playmat
  • Beginning to develop spatial awareness that can help her follow a line to cut
  • Continuing to develop hand-eye coordination to help her eyes and hands stay in sync when cutting

Between months 24 and 36, what she’s learned so far will continue to evolve to improve her scissor skills.

25 – 27 Months

Your toddler will learn to open and close safety scissors with both hands rather than one. This is okay! She’s learning how they work and what they do as she figures out how to hold them.

28 – 30 Months

Your toddler will start to open and close scissors with just one hand, although she may still switch back and forth between each hand (she probably won’t choose a dominant hand just yet; that usually comes closer to age four). She won’t be able to cut paper yet, but she might be able to cut playdough or clay.

31 – 33 Months

Your toddler’s grasp will mature, making it easier for her to snip paper with her scissors. However, she will probably need your help holding the paper for her to cut.

34 – 36 Months

During these months, your toddler will start to use one hand to guide paper toward her scissors while she cuts with the other. She may now begin making forward cuts in her paper, but she may not be able to cut in a straight line yet.

Giving your toddler a few fine motor activities to do every day will continue to develop her finesse with using scissors. You can check the BabySparks development program’s fine motor suggestions to find fun activities that are right on target for your toddler’s age and skills.

 

0 Comments
  • bilateral coordination
  • fine motor
0 Like!
Share
BabySparks

Recent comments

    Tags

    baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
    ABOUT US
    THE TEAM
    TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
    support@babysparks.com
    FacebookInstagramPinterestTwitter
    Copyright © 2020 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
    logo
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
    (All Prices in USD)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
    Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

    Number of children:

    x per child

    Total Amount

    SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    * Required field
    Buy now BS

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

    Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

    Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

    Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

    Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

    Cancel your subscription at any time

    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
    Your account
    Change your password
    X
    EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    Update payment method
    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
    Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    Update your package at any time
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    How does it work?

    You can change your activity package at any time.

    The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

    You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

    Cancel Activity Package
    X
    LOGIN BABYSPARKS

    Forgot your password?

    X
    PASSWORD RESET
    X
    RESET PASSWORD
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    Logged in as: (Not me)
    Select Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 1 99

    per month

    Paid Annually: $23.99
    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support your child’s development

    Weekly development reports summarize progress

    Browse activities for any situation

    Expert-written articles about development

    Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

    Add up to 5 babies to your account

    Cancel your susbcription at any time

    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.