Left-handedness - advice needed!

[Bodkin]

Hi, it looks like my DD is going to be left-handed, and I have no idea how to help her with holding pens, scissors etc. She is 3.5 and holds all pens, brushes etc. in left hand every time and has done for about a year, so I'm assuming that it is not just a phase...

Currently, I let her hold the pen the way she feels comfortable - which is with the whole hand holding the pen. This means she does not rest any part of her arm or wrist on the table, so it is quite hard work for her, although she manages very well. But I expect this technique will not suit for much longer as she starts to learn to write etc.

Should I be teaching her to hold her pen with the "usual" grip that I (right-handed) use? Most left-handed people I know seem not to use this grip as it obstructs their view of what they are writing. Or should I leave her to find her own way?

My son is good at art, but then so are some of my right handed children. But i have heard left-handed people are more artistic.

I am LH. I never had anything special as I grew up. I turn the paper sideways and that way my hand doesn't smudge what I have written. That way I hold the pen "normally". As a result when I was at school and they tried to teach us Itallic writing with fountain pens I couldn't use the LH nibs as I wan't holding my pen at the right angle.- I had to use the RH ones.

It wasn't until My DH bought me some left handed scissors that I found out they wre much better. Having learned to use a RH peeler, pencil sharpener etc I found I couldn't get the hang of the LH ones.

I eat with my knife and fork the RH way but when it comes to dessert as I put the spoon in my LHand so can't use a spoon and fork if you are somewhere posh.

I automatically use the mouse with my LH. I have never found using it a problem. The only thinkg I took a long while to get the hang of was the number pad on the RHS of a keyboard as I would prefer to use my LH on it, but as I used a computer every day, I did eventually get to use it proficiently with my RH.

Does a bread knife really make much difference then?

I've not read all the replies but i did notice a few people mentioning kids smudging or not being able to see what theyre writing.

i'm a leftie... get them to tilt the page that they're writing on clockwise (right hand corner down) - it'll put their hand underneath what they're writing, so no more smudging!