Snip, Cut & Create!
A guide to teaching kids safe scissor skills.
Snip, Cut & Create
Expertly crafted by therapists for your child’s learning at home!
The Sensia Snip, Cut & Create! cutting program is a step-by-step program developed by occupational therapists to help children build the fine motor, hand strength, and coordination skills needed for scissor use, all through fun, task orientated activities you can do at home.
The program is suited to preschool and early primary-aged children (around 3–7 years old), but every child develops differently. You can adjust the activities to your child’s ability level.
Before you start
To complete the program, we recommend using a computer or iPad, as the course is best experienced on a larger screen. A mobile phone is not recommended. Downloadable PDF resources are provided throughout the program to support your child’s learning and reinforce the skills covered in each module.
We suggest splitting the sessions up weekly and practicing what your child has learned between sessions. Use the timetable tracker available in Session 1 to schedule sessions and practice, and the provided stickers to encourage participation and celebrate completion.
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Before You Start
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Parent Videos
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Building Cutting Readiness
Discover how to prepare your child for scissor skills by building their hand and wrist strength through fun, everyday activities. Learn simple ideas to boost motor skills and confidence before starting cutting practice.
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Choosing the Right Scissors
Learn about the different types of scissors for children, when to introduce them, and how to choose the best pair for your child’s hand size and preference. We also share tips for using spring-loaded or loop scissors if your child needs extra support.
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How to Hold Scissors Correctly
Teach your child the correct way to hold scissors safely and confidently. This video shows easy tricks like “thumbs up!” reminders, proper finger placement, and how to hold the paper for smooth, controlled cutting.
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Cutting Skills Workbook
See how our cutting skills workbook takes your child from simple cuts to more advanced tasks in a step-by-step way. Just tear out a page, grab your scissors, and get cutting!
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Therapy at Home - Snip, Cut Create!
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Session 1: Snipping Practice
Introduce your child to scissors by practicing simple snipping. Using the lion and sun stencils, they’ll get comfortable opening and closing scissors without worrying about cutting on the lines.
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Session 2: Cutting Forwards
Now it’s time to cut forward across the page! Using the ‘Save the Man’ and ‘Save the Fish’ stencils, your child will practice moving their helping hand and coordinating both hands while cutting.
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Session 3: Cutting on the Line
Take cutting skills to the next level by following the lines. With the lollipop, road, and soccer stencils, your child will practice cutting more accurately along straight lines.
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Session 4: Cutting Curves
Help your child learn to cut smooth curves by adjusting the paper as they go. Practice with the plane, rocket, and kite stencils to build coordination and control.
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Session 5: Cutting Zigzags
Zigzag lines add a fun challenge! Your child will practice re-adjusting the paper and their helping hand while cutting with the dinosaur stencils — a key skill for trickier cutting tasks.
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Session 6: Cutting Large Shapes
Teach your child to cut around large shapes by starting on the side that matches their dominant hand. Use the snake and turtle stencils to practice smooth, continuous cutting.
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Session 7: Cutting Multiple Shapes
Once your child can cut around a single shape, they can practice cutting out multiple shapes in a row. Using fun stencils like animals, bubbles, and trucks, they’ll learn to cut roughly first, then neatly on the line.
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Meet your therapist
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Meet your therapist ✳
JAS - Occupational Therapist
Jasmine (or Jas as she’s known), is a qualified occupational therapist and an expert in paediatrics. She also has experience in Astronaut Training protocol for those kids wanting to go to the moon - kidding! Her clinical areas of interest include executive functioning, emotional regulation/mental health, parent education, and group therapy/program development.
Passionate about holistic care, Jas believes in understanding the interconnectedness of the body and brain, recognising that each person brings unique experiences and strengths. This perspective drives her approach to creating individualised, evidence-based intervention plans in collaboration with families.
With over 16 years of experience in the performing arts industry, she is always looking for an excuse to include dancing and singing in sessions. When she’s not working, Jas enjoys exploring new skills including gymnastics, boxing, and calisthenics. Jas is known around the workplace for her organisational skills, love of deep conversations and fun facts!
Course FAQ’s
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The program was created by qualified paediatric occupational therapists who work with children to support skill development in areas like hand function, coordination, and school readiness.
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If your child shows interest in using scissors or enjoys activities that involve hand coordination (like drawing, tearing paper, or using playdough), they may be ready! The program starts with pre-cutting skills, so even beginners can join in.
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Yes! The activities are graded (progressive), meaning they start simple and build up as your child’s confidence and control improve. The program is also designed with sensory-friendly and motor-support strategies used by therapists.
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The program includes guidance for both left- and right-handed children, with tips to help support correct scissor grip and paper positioning.
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Cutting works on fine motor control, bilateral coordination (using both hands together), hand strength, and visual-motor integration — all of which are important for writing, dressing, and self-care tasks.
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Most activities take about 10–15 minutes and can be easily added into your weekly routine. Consistency matters more than duration. Short, regular practice is best.