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My child can't use scissors — should I be worried?
Struggling with scissors is usually a normal stage of fine-motor development, not a cause for worry — cutting needs hand strength, coordination and practice that mature at different rates in every child. Encourage it playfully with child-safe scissors and hand-strengthening games. A check helps only if scissors sit alongside wider hand or daily-task difficulties. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child can't use scissors?
Difficulty using scissors usually means fine-motor skills — hand strength, bilateral coordination and eye-hand control — are still maturing; most children master snipping by 3–4 and cutting on a line by 4–5. It is one observation, not a diagnosis. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat should I do if my child can't use scissors?
If your child can't use scissors, build hand strength and the open-shut grasp through play, use child-safe spring-loaded scissors, and start with single snips before lines and shapes. Cutting matures from around 2–3 (snipping) to 4–5 (cutting on a line), so compare gently with age. If it stays hard well past these ages or other fine-motor tasks struggle too, seek a developmental check. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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