Calling left handers....

[aloha]

Ds (three and a half and a bit dyspraxic) is looking more and more as if he is left-handed, which is fine (apparently geniuses are more likely to be lefties!), but as I'm right handed and so is dh I'm not sure if this might present problems for him, esp as he is a clumsy klutz to start with
So what things would help a left-handed child in your opinion? Special scissors? Knives? Any tricks to make his life easier?
Thanks!

as a leftie who had troulbe writing neatly at primary school, I would try and make sure that when Ds is taught to write, he is taught how to hold the pencil and position the paper as a left-hander, comfortably for him.

I only realised when I was about 12 that I was all over the place and had to develop my own style. Up until then teachers had just said how untidy I was. Wrintg with an ink pen was a NIGHTMARE!!!!! I still look at envy with left handers who semm to have a flownig style.....

Even seeing PRince William writing (in a documentary about starting at Eton not in person!!!!!!) I remember thinking how awkward he looked with the hand hooked over the top.

Funnily enough I didn't get any help in this from my parents although my dad is ambidextrous. He was a natural left hander who was taught to write with his right hand as he did mirror writing.

Very strange that this topic should appear now as I was thinking about it this morning......DD2 appears to be left-handed

I definitely do write from underneath and do not have any 'smudging' issues! I think I must have learnt to do this quite early on as I always used to get good comments about neatness, etc. Writing from underneath can only be done if you do twist your paper to be on a slant though, otherwise you end up trying to write across your body.....which is impossible!!

I'm right-handed but wear a watch on my right wrist. We're a 20% left-handed family though

The other problem I have with DD being left handed is, teaching her to tie laces. I show her how I do it, but feel she might have to tie it in a particular way. I don't know really!!!

Also, she loves those scoubidou things but I find it hard to show her how to make them. She seems to lack eye / hand co-ordination! Maybe if I could start it to the left she would have more control?

why not sit opposite her? that's how my mum taught my left-handed auntie to crochet

The best thing I ever got (as a confirmed leftie) was a ruler - will be v good for schoolkids - numbers go from right to left and if you are trying to draw a lion of a certain length holding a pen or pencil in your left hand it is JUST FAB. It came from Anything lefthanded over 20 years ago.

Lloyds TSB do left handed cheque books, which I love but I am getting peed off with the bank - do nay of the others do them?