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Original poster

CALLING ALL LEFT HANDERS, ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE

143 replies

GreenOnions · 13/01/2009 22:13

questions, questions...

how soon can you tell if your child is going to be left handed?

dd is 6 months and today i had a 'lightbulb' moment,

she holds/grabs toys with her left hand,

eats her rusk with her left hand,

chews her left fingers,

sucks her left thumb,

offers her left hand to hold,

lays on her left side,

holds her bottle with her left hand,

none of which bothers me,

but after reading some online research on left handedness should i be worried in any way?

if you are left handed, did you/do you feel it hindered you in any way?

do you consider yourself worse off/better off/no different than if you where right handed?

are you more creative/imaginative/musical or is all that rubbish?

thanks

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Original poster
GreenOnions · 13/01/2009 23:02
OP posts:
Original poster
GreenOnions · 13/01/2009 23:03
OP posts:
wotulookinat · 13/01/2009 23:07

I'm left handed, and my DS,who is 28months, appears to also be a leftie.
It can make things awkward, but then maybe I am just kack-handed (sp?) aswell!! I use it as an excuse to NEVER peel vegetables.
Makes sharing a desk at school awkward, but that's the only time I remember it beinga bind. Apart from when I was 18 and I couldn't smoke while I was driving because the window was on the 'wrong side'!!!!

steph101 · 13/01/2009 23:07

My dd, 2.7 is a left handed. She has been since being tiny and at nursery they taught her the "pincer" grip months ago and she has no problems.... interesting how this thread has thrown up a creative side in lefties!!! Certainly matches my dd who lives to draw and paint.....

DandyLioness · 13/01/2009 23:09

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PinkFurryStripeyTiger · 13/01/2009 23:09

CS it drives me mad when DH has been messing about on my computer- he never puts the mouse back on the left side. I would prolly try to sort your DS out with a left handed mouse setting, as some things like that can be a strain on your hand.

greenonions- lol at the term leftie- much more pleasant- my dad always called me cack- handed

DandyLioness · 13/01/2009 23:10

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Original poster
GreenOnions · 13/01/2009 23:10

By wotulookinat on Tue 13-Jan-09 23:07:30

Apart from when I was 18 and I couldn't smoke while I was driving because the window was on the 'wrong side'!!!!

brilliant, thankyou

OP posts:
wotulookinat · 13/01/2009 23:13

my pleasure

ChasingSquirrels · 13/01/2009 23:13

points on mouse noted - I am going to observe and experiment!
But then logistics? He obviously doesn't have his own computer (he is 6), he alternates between using my laptop and the pc, both of which have non-shaped (symetrical) mice set up with LH buttons. So sorting a LH mouse effectively means changing the settings each time.
Bugger that, it's my IT equipment!

ChasingSquirrels · 13/01/2009 23:14

duh - set up with RH buttons.

Acinonyx · 14/01/2009 00:23

Dd 3.5 is definitely left-handed. We have dh's computer set up with a LH mouse for her (which really foxes me).

I'm the musical one and I'm afraid to say that I don't think dd is remotely musical. She takes after her father She's very good at drawing though, and very imaginative.

She's crazy for writing at the moment and I'm still getting to grips with how to help her as a leftie (dh and I both righties).

meandjoe · 14/01/2009 06:31

i'm left handed, i have never found it a problem as such but teachers always insisted (back in the 80's they mayne don't do this now) that my book was straight when i wrote in it, it'snearly impossible for a left handed peron to do this without smudging everything written uless you hold the pen in an uncomfortable way with your wrist twisted. other than that, never had any trouble except with scissors which have to use my right hand for but have got very good at it now and it's probably the only thing i do with my right hand!

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 14/01/2009 07:56

OP - It is no big deal. Don't try to get your dd to be a rightie, if that's not how her brain is wired - it's unnecessary.

I have read that forcing lefties to use right hand caused them problems.

** I have no idea if it's accurate or one of those silly myths, but I have read about co-ordination problems, stuttering, etc. It was common years ago to make them use right hand. It didn't do them any favours!!

Anyway, if that's true or not, there's still no need to make something like this an issue. There's nothing to fret about, I promise.

Original poster
GreenOnions · 14/01/2009 11:25

i read that to hecate,

OP posts:
notwavingjustironing · 14/01/2009 11:28

I'm left handed, but I use a "right handed" mouse, just on the left hand side of my keyboard, rather than the right.

I also play hockey right handed, but kick a ball with my left foot.

That's changed your life hasn't it?

But seriously, I've never had any problems, except I never knew why I was so rubbish at using scissors at school

ilove · 14/01/2009 11:36

I'm very left handed, I use a keyboard just with my left hand to type, and type as fast/accurately as a two handed typist, use the mouse in my left hand, cannot button buttons with just my right hand (ie cuffs etc...button them before I put the item on then slide my hand through the sleeve).

The best way for a right handed person to teach a left handed child anything is to sit facing them, so that they see your right hand at the same side as their left one, and it is a mirror image for them. I learnt to knit that way, and embroider.

I have a left handed fountain pen and want a left handed clock...it isn't a gimmick I find it easier to tell the time on one...eg I ust glanced at my clock on the wall and instead of reading "11:35" I read "12:25".

My uncle is left handed too but none of my children are...fortunately my husband is right handed so teaching them to do stuff is usually his domain!

blueshoes · 14/01/2009 12:07

I am lefthanded. Who has adapted to use righthanded things. Some scissors cause problems, but I have scissors which I know I can use and just use those.

The only issue was in school when I had to learn to write in manuscript. I had to use a left handed manuscript pen and write backwards. But was quite easy for me to adapt.

I use a right handed mouse setting with my left hand. The only thing I do is bring the wire round to the left hand side so I don't get entangled.

Being lefthanded is not a big issue for me. It is good for golf and tennis.

Also, a left hander is not left handed in all aspects. For example, I use a knife and fork in the right handed way. Same for canopeners.

Original poster
GreenOnions · 14/01/2009 12:07

ilove,

that is a great idea, the mirror image thing,

thanks

OP posts:
lilithxx · 14/01/2009 13:01

my son showed signs of being left handed as soon as he started grabbing things

ThingOne · 14/01/2009 14:24

Thanks for the mirror image idea. I'll see if we can try that with the egg cracking.

WilfSell · 14/01/2009 14:38

Haven't got time to read thread in full (at work) but wanted to respond on the mouse thing.

Am left handed. Use mouse on left side with buttons swapped over (control panel, mouse settings etc)

However, I wonder if you're sharing a computer whether it is possible just to connect another mouse via a USB port?

We have a wireless one at home BTW and the icon comes up in the tray in the bottom. Therefore no hassle to click the icon then click 'swap buttons...'

My family are all used to it. But I point out (they're all male) that I had to get used to putting the seat down and wiping piss off the floor too...

WilfSell · 14/01/2009 14:39

Oh. And I am a creative, multitalented genius of course.

elliott · 14/01/2009 14:42

I'm left handed but do very little with my left hand, so I guess its not a very strong trait for me.
I don't think its necessary to make a big fuss about it really.
I have to say I was mildly disappointed that neither of my children is left handed. It does feel like a quirky little club!

Threadworm · 14/01/2009 14:51

I'm left handed. Always use mouse right handed, because if I got used to doing it lh I would find it fiddly adapting to another's work station.

Being lh is really not a problem (except that scissors hurt). I'm sure that having to adapt to rh technology all the time is good exercise for the left-handers' brains (which, as Wilf says, are in any case way superior and creative etc ).

I like being a leftie.

No need to make any big deal of it with the dc.