Category Archives: Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development

Explore tools, games, and activities that support fine motor skill development including grasp, dexterity, hand strength, and coordination essential for functional tasks.

Adapted Scissors Guide: Finding the Right Fit for Every Learner

Assistive Technology, Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development, School-Based Practice, Therapist Resources, ,

When it comes to developing essential cutting skills, adapted scissors for kids can make all the difference in supporting learners with physical, cognitive, or sensory-motor challenges. Therapists, educators, and parents know that one size rarely fits all—especially when it comes to fine motor tools. At Therapro, our wide selection of adaptive scissors offers tailored options to meet diverse needs, from improving grip and control to promoting bilateral coordination. This guide compares popular adapted scissors and offers practical tips for selecting the right tool based on each child’s abilities and goals.

1. Easi-Grip Loop Scissors:

Easi-Grip Loop Scissors

Ideal for children with weak grip strength or limited dexterity, Easi-Grip Loop Scissors feature a self-opening mechanism and a continuous loop handle that automatically reopens after each cut. These are particularly effective for learners who have difficulty with standard scissor action due to conditions such as cerebral palsy or low muscle tone. Tip: Position the paper vertically to allow more shoulder stability while cutting.

2. Mounted Table Top Scissors:

For learners with severely limited hand function or the inability to grasp, Mounted Table Top Scissors can be operated with the palm, elbow, or even a fist. They stay secured to a surface and allow for one-handed use, making them an excellent choice for children recovering from surgery or those with hemiplegia. Tip: Use with a non-slip mat to ensure stability and safety during use.

Mounted Table Top Scissors

3. Dual-Controlled Training Scissors:

Dual Control Teaching Scissors

Perfect for developing scissor skills with adult support, Dual-Controlled Training Scissors allow a therapist, teacher, or parent to guide the cutting motion alongside the child. This model is ideal for beginners who need extra hand-over-hand support while learning proper finger placement and control. Tip: Use these scissors for modeling open-close sequences before transitioning to independent use.

Therapist Tips for Success:

  • Start with snipping activities using short strips of paper to build confidence.
  • Reinforce midline orientation by centering the cutting activity.
  • Combine cutting with visual-motor integration tasks to strengthen tracking and planning skills.

Selecting the right pair of adapted scissors for kids can significantly enhance a learner’s sense of independence and participation in school and home activities. Visit the Adaptive Scissors Category Page for our full selection.

By choosing the right adapted scissors and using strategic therapist-informed techniques, you empower every child to achieve cutting success—one snip at a time.

Integrating Fine Motor Practice into Centers and Push-In OT

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Therapro's Hand Skills and Refinement Kit

An important goal for school-based occupational therapists is to make therapy functional, inclusive, and accessible, especially within the general education setting. Supporting fine motor skills in push-in OT is a practical way to meet students where they are, and the Therapro Hand Skills Development and Refinement Kit is a go-to resource for doing just that. With ready-to-use materials designed for classroom use, this kit helps therapists promote fine motor development right where students learn best: in the classroom

This ready-to-use kit makes it easy to embed meaningful, goal-directed activities into daily routines—whether setting up a fine motor center, co-teaching during morning rotations, or working side by side with a student during a push-in session.

Why Use a Kit in the Classroom?

Fine motor challenges often show up in everyday school tasks, like cutting, writing, opening containers, or manipulating classroom tools. Rather than pulling students out of class, bringing therapy to them increases participation, generalization, and confidence. Using a structured kit like this means therapists can quickly set up engaging, developmentally appropriate activities with minimal prep and maximum impact.

Classroom Centers: Fine Motor Skill Building for All Students

In many classrooms, the teacher rotates small groups through learning stations. Occupational therapists can collaborate with teachers to include a Fine Motor Center using components from the kit. Here are some examples of center activities using included items:

  • Link ‘N Learn Links: Students connect links by color or pattern, working on bilateral coordination and hand strength. Try timed races or spelling challenges using linked letter cards.
  • Plastic Coins + Mini Dice: Use for grasp and release, sorting by size, or simple coin/dice math games to combine cognitive and motor skills.
  • Charm and Round Pop Beads: Encourage students to snap together and pull apart to build finger strength and precision.
  • Jumbo Tweezer: Pick up beads, coins, or classroom manipulatives for a fun twist on sorting or math tasks.

Each activity strengthens key hand skills while aligning with academic or classroom goals, making OT strategies visible and relevant.

Push-In Sessions: Targeted Goals, Real-Time Coaching

During push-in OT sessions, therapists can work directly with students at their desks or in small groups using the kit for skill-specific interventions. Some favorite applications:

  • Nut & Bolt Pairs: Great for developing bilateral coordination and fine motor precision.Try pairing this with a visual scanning or matching game.
  • Eye Droppers: Use with water or colored liquid on a laminated target sheet for pincer grasp refinement and hand stability.
  • Spinning Tops: A motivating tool for wrist stabilization and isolated finger movement—plus they’re fun!
  • Smiley Face Wind-Up Toy: Wind and release to work on grasp strength and bilateral sequencing, then challenge students to estimate distance or race them.
  • Standard Pencil: Practice proper grasp, pencil control, and name writing during writing tasks.

The variety of tools makes it easy to individualize for different goals, from improving endurance for writing tasks to strengthening prehension patterns.

Tips for Success

  • Build routines around the kit—students love knowing what to expect each week.
  • Create task cards with visual cues to promote independence at centers.
  • Use classroom themes (e.g., math, science) to tie fine motor activities to curriculum goals.
  • Share progress with teachers and families using simple checklists or observation notes.

Final Thoughts

The Therapro Hand Skills Development and Refinement Kit offers a practical, engaging, and inclusive way to support fine motor development where it matters most—in the classroom. Whether you’re creating a fine motor center or joining in a push-in session, this kit makes it easier to integrate therapy into the flow of learning.

Want to learn more or grab a kit for your school? Check it out here.

Tools for Developing Scissor Skills

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On September 19, 2023, Kelly Wilk-Downs, OTR/L presented Therapro’s first FREE Webinar of this school year, Cutting Made Simple. She offered a comprehensive look at the:

  • Development of scissor use
  • Selecting appropriate scissors for students
  • Prerequisite skills needed for learning to cut with scissors

This blog post comes on the heels of Kelly’s webinar; in this post we are reviewing some tools available at Therapro that are perfect for encouraging the development of scissor skills in beginner scissor users and beyond!

Cover of the book Hats Off and On to Scissors Skills a book for Developing Scissor Skills

Hats Off and On to Scissor Skills: Exclusive to Therapro is a creative publication called Hats Off and On to Scissor Skills, by
Peggy Huntley Spitz, OTR. This book consists of 25 themed hat designs that can be made for 4
progressive levels of cutting skills:

  • Straight line cutting and/or random snipping
  • Curved line cutting
  • Simple shape cutting
  • Complex shape cutting

This is a fun and unique activity book that will help you create an enjoyable project for the
developmental progression of scissor skills!

Comprehensive Scissor Assessment Kit used for Developing Scissor Skills

Comprehensive Scissor Assessment Kit: Therapro offers a variety adaptive scissors that will ensure active participation from all students
learning cutting skills, including those with limited hand function due to weakness, incoordination, and other functional limitations. Check out Therapro’s Comprehensive Scissor Assessment Kit, which includes 15 scissors of 10 different styles, plus a carry case and Manual.

Therapro carries a variety of scissors to meet the different needs of scissor users as they are progressing developmentally. Here is a sample of some of our favorite scissors.

Easi-Grip Loop Scissors for early scissor skills

Easi-Grip Loop Scissors : Easi Grip Loop Scissors are available in two sizes; the Mini Easi-Grip Loop Scissors are great for pre-school children while the standard Easi Grip Loop Scissors are made for the adult sized hand. These scissors are self opening for either right or left hand. They are operated by using pressure between the thumb and fingers or palm and fingers.

Self Opening Scissors

Self Opening Scissors : The Self Opening Scissors are available for left and right handed users. These scissors reopen automatically after hand pressure has been released.

Long Loop Scissors

Long Loop Scissors : The Long Loop Scissors are also available for left and right handed users. These scissors allow the user to use whole hand strength to operate. They also provide greater finger contact, which offers better control.

Mounted Table Top Scissors

Mounted Table Top Scissors : The Mounted Table Top Scissors offer stability with scissors attached to a base. To operate users simply depressing the large handle.

Be sure to check out all of the scissors and scissor activities available at Therapro!

Guest Blogger: Filomena Connor, MSOTR, Retired