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Original poster

Needs some advice re. left handed children... how do you know?

63 replies

MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:35

I suspect dd might be Left handed but how do you know? dd doesn't show a strong preference either way.

When we were doing art at the weekend she drew with her right and cut with her left.

I've always thought she was a lefty but at one of her checks the HV said she was showing a preference to right (which I disputed)

she's 3 and I want to encourage her to make shapes of letters but don't want to encourage her to hold the pencil in her right if she's left handed.

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Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:36

oops stupid thread title.

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Redtartanlass · 13/12/2005 13:46

Mascara, my ds2 appears to use both hands to draw and both feet to kick a ball (much to dp's delight) I don't 'encourage' him to use either just hold out the crayon/spoon in front of him and he decides which hand.

However he is much younger than your dd.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:48

I just am starting to wonder if she's so bad at cutting/drawing/writing (way behind peers) because maybe she's encouraged at nursery to use her right hand.

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Redtartanlass · 13/12/2005 13:49

Don't think you could accidentally discourage her from using her dominant hand. My xp (is that right from ex partner?) was forced to use his right hand at school (in the 70s can you believe it!!! )but uses his left hand anyway!!

LIZS · 13/12/2005 13:52

dd was really obviously left handed from the time she first held a crayon about a year/18 months. ds showed no real hand preference until gone 4 and even then his OT said it wasn't very dominant.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:53

Probably not but I do wonder if she's confused.

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Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:54

LIZS - what's an OT?

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nailpolish · 13/12/2005 13:54

if you gave a pen/scissors to a lefthanded child in their right hand they would just pass it to their left without a thought

people pass things to my right hand and i just swap it over, its subconcious

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 13:56

NP, my dd would just use whichever hand you gave it her in...

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LIZS · 13/12/2005 13:58

OT= Occupational Therapist . ds has motor issues and was never keen on typical Preschool activities such as playdough, arts and crafts, colouring where this might have become apparent earlier. He has trouble with handwriting, drawing, scissors and so on .

nailpolish · 13/12/2005 14:00

maybe she is a bit of both - i have a friend like that, she can write with both hands although usually her left

i really wouldnt worry

which hand does she pick things up with? (not handed to her)

LIZS · 13/12/2005 14:00

He's a right hander now by the way but left footed and doesn't like using a fork in his left hand and knife in right.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 14:01

LIZS how old is your ds? that sounds like dd but I think she is just clumsy and lazy

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JonesTheSteamingSanta · 13/12/2005 14:02

My DD (4.10) has always used both hands to do things and has never really shown a preference for either until recently.

Now she's in reception, she's been coming home with letter practice sheets, and although she can write them with both hands, and to look at the letters, there's no discernable difference, her writing seems to flow better (physically) when she's using her left hand. She seems to have chosen her left hand herself now and I'm trying to encourage her to use her left hand on a regular basis. She still colours in with both though.

There's still plenty of time for her to decide - just go with the flow until she makes a decision.

Forcing children not to use the hand they prefer, can be detrimental I believe. I know someone whose son was forced to write with his right hand, even though he was left-handed, and he developed a bad stammer. And I think that might have happened to the Queen's father as well when he was growing up (sure I read that in a history book once!!!!)

tamba · 13/12/2005 14:02

Im left handed as is my ds1 (not sure about ds2 yet, he uses both)

I used to write with my paper upside down!

Just hand her the pencil and see which hand she starts drawing with?

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 14:03

NP - wouldn't suprise me, I think I commented on here before actually that I think she may be ambidextrous(sp??). Just feel sorry for her not being able to cut and draw like the others.

I don't think she has a preference for picking things up or picking her nose. she uses a fork and spoon with either hand as well (unlike me - I eat left handed)

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MaryP0p1 · 13/12/2005 14:05

My understanding of the left hand right hand thing is that it is not definate until they are at least 4 and they can change between the ages of birth and 4 (ish). Also I am left handed with some things and right handed with others, this is not at all uncommon.

As far as holding the pencil ask her which one she wants to hold it in. Or even perhaps just give it to her and ask her to do what you want her to do without commenting or helping her until she decides which she is happier with. Thats what I have always done when helping children with their pre writing skills.

OnZephyrstDayofXmas · 13/12/2005 14:05

Which hand does she instinctively pick pens etc up with? Does she change hands at all whilst writing/cutting?

Dp and I are both left handed - although he is a complete lefty I use both hands. I write left handed but my right is my 'dominant' hand. I play football right footed, use a knife and fork the right way round, hold a guitar right handed etc but do other things left handed without thinking about it!

Dd is left handed for writing but haven't noticed anything else. So far ds (18 months) always holds his pen in his right.

It gets a bit confusing!!!!

geogteach · 13/12/2005 14:06

I showed no preference by the time I stated school, was encouraged to choose one or the other and have ended up writing with left and doing most other tasks with right.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 14:06

Jones - I also agree that encouraging the wrong hand can be detrimental which is why I was asking the question really.

Sounds like she'll choose in her own sweet time though which is reassuring as I thought children should be really showing a preference way before now.

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OnZephyrstDayofXmas · 13/12/2005 14:06

Meant to say as well that she will have a definate writing 'hand' by the time she starts school so until then I'd just let her do it whichever way she feels comfortable.

JonesTheSteamingSanta · 13/12/2005 14:07

The nursery teacher told me to place the pencil on the table in front of DD vertically so she had to choose which hand to pick it up with.

She also said that if you gave a child a pretend telescope, that the way they picked it up would tell you which hand they prefer. If they pick it up with the left hand and put it to their left eye they are left-handed. If they pick it with their right hand and put it to their right eye, they are right-handed.

(When I tried this with DD, she picked it up with her left hand and put it to her right eye. Later on, she picked it up with her right hand and put it to her left eye. Who knows what that means!!!!)

MaryP0p1 · 13/12/2005 14:08

Probably means that its not decided yet and may change and change again until it is.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 13/12/2005 14:08

Zephyr - she changes constantly whilst completing a task.

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JonesTheSteamingSanta · 13/12/2005 14:09

That's like my DD was Mascara - when colouring in, she uses both hands (and tells me it's 'cos the other one is tired and needs a rest!!!!)