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Original poster

Left handed child

69 replies

tabletops123 · 07/02/2022 14:21

Hi all
My 5 year old has been using her left hand as her dominate hand for about a year now eg cutting, writing etc

I've bought her some left handed scissors which she says feel much more comfortable. I'm right handed and so is everyone I know. Are there any lefties out there or parents of lefties that can give me any general tips or good buys for my daughter as I understand most things are made with right handed people in mind.

Thanks

OP posts:
devildeepbluesea · 07/02/2022 14:23

As a leftie in her late 40s I never had any adapted gear. I just adapted to right handed things naturally. My daughter and nephew are both lefties too - they do the same.

minipie · 07/02/2022 14:26

Ask her to be sat at school with space on her left (ie no other child there). If she is sat with a right handed child to her left, they will bash elbows a lot.

Other than that - my left hander hasn’t had special kit. I believe they use special no smudge pens when they get to using pens in about y4 (but all kids have these not just L handers).

For my left hander the main thing is having to turn round instructions in her head. If I am showing her how to do something, I try to use the hand she would use, so she doesn’t have to do that translation in her head.

PolliFlinders · 07/02/2022 14:27

A left handed pencil sharpener.It was much appreciated by my son in primary school.

De88 · 07/02/2022 14:27

I've got two left handed children, every time they've moved class their teachers have be great at sitting them in the correct places so that they and desk sharers don't bump into each other.

Other than left handed scissors and pens that dry quickly when they get a bit older, (as they smudge it by covering it up as they write!) haven't needed any specific left handed purchases education wise.

We're now getting into the arena of my eldest doing more around the house so left handed tin opener is the only other thing we have.

SleepyRoo · 07/02/2022 14:29

Get her into a sport that uses the hand/arm (tennis, fencing, volleyball, table tennis) as it gives a huge advantage & can be a fantastic confidence boost!

De88 · 07/02/2022 14:30

Have to say my lefties have been easier to teach in in a lot of ways eg tying shoelaces, chopping an onion because of being able to mirror and copy.

youlearnsomethingneweveryday · 07/02/2022 14:37

Hey! My 5 year old daughter is left handed too, we've always known since she was very small.

Nothing really stands out as 'helping' obviously she has left handed scissors etc.

We found blouses (school uniform) that button the male side (buttons on the right) helped her more for dressing in PE etc.

She's in reception at the moment and learning to write and sometimes accidentally writes back to front and right to left but the teacher says she'll kick the habit with more practice.

I wouldn't worry about it too much! Smile

Original poster
tabletops123 · 07/02/2022 15:49

Thanks all these tips are really useful

OP posts:
Inspectorslack · 07/02/2022 15:50

Get her an automatic can opener when she is old enough.

TeenPlusCat · 07/02/2022 18:21

iirc Some letters are formed differently for left handers, so make sure you 'help' correctly.

Imposteramongus · 07/02/2022 18:24

Both my DC are left handed.

The main issue is that they write their letters back to front.

Southbucksldn · 07/02/2022 18:25

Hello, leftie here. Be prepared that she might have crap handwriting - I certainly did. I became obsessed with the fact I had terrible handwriting ….. teachers and other kids would go on as if it was a major issue!

IglesiasPiggl · 07/02/2022 18:28

I am left handed, so is my husband and both my DC. I taught them to cut right handed, as my mother did for me. So much less faff than needing left handed scissors.

boomshakalacka · 07/02/2022 18:28

My leftie used to write backwards- left to write with all letters going the wrong way! We cracked it with simply adding a dot to the left hand side of the page to remind her to start there! She's 7 now and never has a problem anymore.

Susu49 · 07/02/2022 18:29

I'm the same as @devildeepbluesea and just adapted to using both. Like pp though my handwriting was terrible and I was shamed for it a lot growing up.

I didnt even know there was such a thing a left handed pencil sharpener!

Ohyesiam · 07/02/2022 18:30

My son is a leftie and I’ve never got him any special kit. He’s ended up quite ambidextrous because he learns to do stuff with his right hand too.

pompomseverywhere · 07/02/2022 18:31

I haven't read the full thread but someone told me pencil sharpeners are very hard to use when a leftie. So that would be good to have.
What a great mum you are for asking.

Bonbon21 · 07/02/2022 18:31

When you are demostrating crafts etc.. sit opposite and mirror each other... ie you use your right hand... she uses her left...
Scissors are the biggest thing.. but most lefties are ambidextrous to a certain extent.. a left handed kitchen knife when she is older and learning to chop and cook..

TeenPlusCat · 07/02/2022 18:33

My 85yo DM was forced to right with her right hand as a child. She writes right handed but does everything else left handed.

I's pretty ambidextrous. Started writing with my left hand but switched when I was about 6. I colour in left handed still, also iron and sew left handed, but do most other things right handed.

PeterPomegranate · 07/02/2022 18:33

Hello! Our eldest is left handed. He’s 11 now.

He did mirror writing for a long time. Into year 3 if I recall correctly. And sometimes he just couldn’t ‘see’ it was wrong and would rub it out and do it again exactly the same. He did grow out of it / learn the correct way.

I worried about his handwriting but actually his handwriting was much better than his younger brother who is right handed.

He has left handed pencil sharpeners as mentioned. Left handed scissors. Non smudging pens.

PeterPomegranate · 07/02/2022 18:34

We found him left handed tie tying YouTube videos. Also shoelaces. But he’s still not good at that.

Musicaltheatremum · 07/02/2022 18:34

My son is left handed but for computer uses mouse with right hand much easier.

OwBist · 07/02/2022 18:34

I've discovered left-handed pens! Brilliant and no more smudged hands / wrists like at school (many decades ago!). Visi pen by Maped.

Knittingnanny2 · 07/02/2022 18:35

Hi there. Left handed Infant teacher here. As well as the other tips, I would teach her to always tilt her writing page ( imagine the top right hand corner being at about 2 O’clock) so that her writing hand does not cover what she has already written. This is also why she needs to sit at the left corner of the table.
Also, use a softer pencil as lefthanders have a tendency to press harder for some reason. So a B rather than HB.

Anguauberwaldironfoundersson · 07/02/2022 18:35

I've never had a problem with pencil sharpeners.

Scissors can be uncomfortable. Can openers are a fucker. But my ultimate nemesis is a knife. Normal knives are not made for spreading butter on bread when you're a left hander. The serrated bit is on the wrong side. I tear the bread up before I've got the lurpak on!