1. Scissor Skills
Developmental Stages and Activities
2-3 years old
• Holds scissors with two hands to open and
close
• Begins to snip paper but no forward
movement of the scissors
• Begins to open and close scissors with
dominant hand
• May be able to use “helping hand” to
hold paper and move towards scissors
3-4 years old
• Cuts on straight lines with some accuracy
• Cuts on curved lines and around corners
without accuracy
• Begins to turn the paper with “helping
hand”
4-5 years old
• Can cut fairly accurately along curved
lines and around shapes (ex. circle and
square)
• Turns the paper fairly effectively with
“helping hand” to stay on line
5-6 years old
• Uses a mature scissor grasp consistently
• Hands work together in coordination to
cut, hold and turn paper
• Cuts smoothly
Developmental Milestones
Simple and Fun Activities
• Cutting playdoh
• Tearing and snipping different
materials such as tissue paper,
magazine pages, newspaper, felt, etc.
• Using tongs, tweezers, or clothes pins
to pick up pom-pom/cotton balls and
place in container
• Snipping straws into pieces and
stringing them to make into necklaces
• Punching holes in paper with a single
hole punch or shape punches
• Using medicine/eye dropper to squirt
paint or water
• Water play with squirt guns or spray
bottles (work on squeezing and
releasing trigger)
Corcoran and Katleman, LLU Department of Occupational Therapy, April 2015
All information provided is a general guideline of development. It is important to
remember that all children develop at their own individual rate.