Left handed help!

[nancydrew2]

Hello, my daughter (6.5) is in Yr1. She's left handed and, whilst we've previously consciously let her find her own way with it, she's now getting very frustrated with handwriting (finger spaces and neatness) and her teachers are trying various methods and also not finding anything that makes much of a difference. Can I ask what you have purchased/used/found that helps, please? Thanks!!

[MeowthThatsRight]

The only thing I found that helped was a berol handwriting pen, I still use one at 34. Fountain pens and biros I can’t get to work and pencils wear completely unevenly because I gouge the paper so much.

I think it’s hard at that age as teachers do really focus on handwriting still. As she gets older, as long as it’s legible then it’s not so important. I’m still a bit embarrassed of my handwriting but I know what it says.

Have you tried those exercise books that have patterns to trace? If she’s struggling to make her writing legible they can help with shape forming etc.

[nancydrew2]

Thank you. The irony being I'm a Secondary teacher and I'm always saying to parents 'so long as it's legible!'

Do you mean the regular Berols? Or a special leftie one?

[MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours]

best thing we found was to get the left hander sitting at the end of the table which gives them free movement.

if they are sitting next to a righthander they'll constantly be bumping elbows

other wise you need to mirror everything, paper tilted bottom to the right for a right hander is bottom to the left for a left hander, this also help to keep hands under the line so no hand hooking, and less temptation to form letters incorrectly

[nancydrew2]

Thank you. I'm thinking I might see if there's such a thing as a 'placemat' that helps kids set their paper at an angle as my daughter is really keen on it sitting straight on the table.

[MeowthThatsRight]

I use a regular handwriting pen but I write like a right hander. So my arm up over the top and wrist twisted back so I’m dragging the pen like a right hander iyswim. Does your dad write like that or does she hold her arm ‘properly’ and push the pen? If she does that then a left handed pen may work better for her.

[Greenleave]

Left handed reception and starts writing here as well and its so frustrating for her, she doesnt see what she drew and/or wrote because the hand either had covered it or rubbed it away!!!

[Ilove]

I’m a leftie and this is the website you need

www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/acatalog/childrens_products.html

Absolutely fab resources for children and adults

[crimsonlake]

This interesting, all I can add is that I am left handed and have never found it an issue.

[Greenleave]

It might be because no one in our family is left handed and in my generation in SE Asia, no one allows to write with left hand so having her being the first lefty is some thing very different to us.

[Greenleave]

And thanks so much for the link!

[MrsPnut]

I have a stabilo left handed s pen and I angle paper to write so I don’t rub over it. My handwriting was awful until I was about 14 and suddenly it became very neat and ordered. I don’t write much anymore so it has deteriorated.

[Birdsfoottrefoil]

Using a finger for ‘finger spaces’ is nigh on impossible especially if you have the paper tilted correctly (top left corner vertically above bottom right) so knock that on the head straight away...

[Jamhandprints]

Pencil grips where you can put two fingers in are useful for my left handed son. I got a set from Amazon.

[BackforGood]

Definitely make sure she is sitting on the left hand side of the pair.
I'd also tilt the paper so the left hand corner is higher than the right.
I presume she is using pencil at the momnet, but the habit will be built in for when she starts using ink and won't be wanting to smudge it.

Re the 'finger space' - put your own fist (well, have fingers 3, 4, and 5 only 1/2 tucked in, so your hand is flatter on the glass), and leave your thumb flat and "Peter Pointer" out straight, and take a photocopy. Laminate it, and then cut it out, and she can keep that in her tray and use it for her finger spaces without having to cross her hands over. I used to use these with children in schools many years ago - came across one the other day when having a sort out

[Norestformrz]

From anything left handed

[Norestformrz]

A lolly stick works for finger spaces and as someone said sitting to the left of a right handed person prevents elbow bumping.
Personally I'd avoid the Berol handwriting pens as they blotch easily

[NellWilsonsWhiteHair]

My left-handed yr2 6yo is really happy with a yoropencil - he only started using it a few months ago and exclaimed 'I can see what I'm writing!'. His writing is noticeably neater now too although he still compares it unfavourably with the rest of the class. :(

[Norestformrz]

If using a pencil a softer 2B (or higher) is easier for left handlers than hB as they slide over the paper rather than tear.

[kshaw]

I always turn my paper at an angle. Almost at a right angle to be honest. Much easier and less messy

[TheVanguardSix]

She won't be writing in ink at school at this age.
I think these pencils are fantastic.
www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/acatalog/stabilo-easy-graph-pencils-6.html

[PandaCat]

I'm a leftie, I have to write with the paper at an angle like kshaw mentioned.

It took a lot of smudged work and frustrated teachers to realise this helps.

[nancydrew2]

Thank you so much for all the replies. So much amazing advice and resources to try. Brilliant. Thank you. X

[Monkeymonstermum]

Type ‘left handed ....’ pencil etc into amazon. Stabilo do some good pencils/sharpeners/scissors etc

[OptimysticMom]

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Desk-Supply-Organisers-Dispensers/Acrylic-Ergonomic-Writing-Better-Posture/B0110BSSWE?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

my LH son used the left handed pencil for a while. Children that age need to be constantly reminded i think. he can write well when he wants to and is asked to slow down. also i made him a hand print for his RH to use to remember where to place his RH as sometimes that also effects overall presentation. sorry cant seem to find an image of this aid, but it was from a US site. good luck!

[typoqueen]

oh this brings back so many memories of my DD now 12 year old in primary, she too is a leftie but was born without part of her left forarm and hand!!! oh the things they used to give her to help her write with her non dominant right was funny, lolly sticks, she actually had to put her pencil down put stick in place pick up pen and write, then they complained she was slow and not writing enough, if i were you the best thing to do is just keep reminding them to put a space (it will drive you completely bonkers) they will find their own style believe me, DD now writes beautifully x