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Original poster

Can we get any help for lefty with bad handwriting?

20 replies

pugsandseals · 12/02/2010 21:18

DD in year 3 is getting very frustrated with herself and her grades are starting to suffer as she is more worried about how she is going to write her answers than what they actually are!
It's heartbreaking to watch both her schoolwork and confidence in decline. Anyone know if there is such a thing as a handwriting tutor? Or what help may be available from school?
Not sure what else to try

OP posts:
saintlydamemrsturnip · 12/02/2010 21:25

ds2 is left handed and in year 3 and it's only very recently that he has stopped panicking about having to write and got on with it.

If you google educational suppliers there are quite a few handwriting kits etc.

Also things you can attach to your pencils/pens to aid the grip.

Original poster
pugsandseals · 12/02/2010 21:36

We've done all that already & DD came home tonight telling us she has given away her left-handed pen so she doesn't have to use it anymore!

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lou031205 · 12/02/2010 21:41

When I was younger, my teacher was horrible to me for being left-handed. I taught myself to be right-handed. The following year, there were special handwriting classes for LH kids, which I wasn't allowed to attend

That was in the 1980's, so perhaps they still do them?

nellie12 · 12/02/2010 21:46

I'm left handed and can remember having to practice handwriting a lot as a child. I do remember left handed pens being cumbersome so ditched them - much like your dd

I dont think it really started to improve till we did italics in art which I liked and was willing to practice. i didnt use it as my normal writing but there was a knock- on effect iyswim.

Have you chatted to her about why she's lacking confidence so much because if she is getting a lot of grief at school over it I would be having words with the teacher.

MaureenMLove · 12/02/2010 21:52

Are you sure it's because she's left handed? Reason I say that, is that DD's handwriting was rotten at primary school, because they were so hell bent on making sure they did this fancy 'starting on the line' type writing, she lost all confidence and her grades dipped.

It wasn't until she started secondary school, where she could choose her own style, that she really came into her own. Her hand writing is lovely now and the quality and quantity of her work is much, much better. It improved no end within the first couple of months of starting Yr7.

Original poster
pugsandseals · 12/02/2010 21:52

I don't think she is being bullied about it or anything, just see's everyone else writing with their right hand and wants to fit in! She also has terrible trouble just holding the pen/pencil and tends to press so hard it hurts her hand and rips the paper. I am a lefty too so thought I could help, but you know what they're like- they never listen to Mum & if teacher isn't noticing you hide in the corner embarrassed to ask for help. That seems to be DD's way of dealing with it anyway!

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Original poster
pugsandseals · 12/02/2010 21:54

Maureen-
she actually seems to do quite well in handwriting lessons- just struggles more when she needs to think about what to write rather than just copying

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nellie12 · 12/02/2010 21:56

what about a fountain pen? there is only so hard you can press that before it breaks and it tends to improve the writing too.

heQet · 12/02/2010 21:57

if she doesn't already do it, tell her to turn the paper and write sideways, down the page, towards her. This will be neater. It's how I write, otherwise my hand is like a bent old claw and brushes over what I've just written.

I also found holding the pen really hard. Turning the paper helped me with this too.

Original poster
pugsandseals · 12/02/2010 21:57

Not allowed until year 4 at DD's school- nice idea though!

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GypsyMoth · 12/02/2010 22:00

dont worry too much.....my dd and ds are left handed. both had terrible handwriting but sorted itself out naturally. dd was in year 5 when it changed overnight almost....its really lovely now. and ds took longer,year 7,but its coming together really well now.

ime the left handed pens etc are little use

senua · 13/02/2010 11:56

What is the seating like in class? Does she have a right-hander on her left and they are clashing elbows?

castlesintheair · 13/02/2010 12:03

My DS has been seeing an OT for a similar problem. Although he is right handed he has an unusual pencil grip. She's given him exercises and pencil grips (which the school are supporting fully) and the change has been remarkable. He has just been awarded his Pen Licence!

A friend's son who is left-handed (and mildly dyspraxic like my DS) also had help from same OT as he had problems transferring his words to paper, not just mechanically. He was getting very frustrated. Sound's a bit like your DD.

Ask your GP or school if they can refer you to one.

Original poster
pugsandseals · 13/02/2010 16:35

Sorry if I sound dense- but what's an OT?

OP posts:
heQet · 13/02/2010 16:39

occupational therapist

bruffin · 13/02/2010 16:49

DD was the same, year 3 or 4 almost illegible. However became legible in year 5 and almost neat in YR6 and now in year 7 I looked at her book the other day and was shocked, almost like a different child

I wouldn't have thought a fountain pen is a very good idea because it would smudge. DDs little finger is permantly black from where her hand drags across her writing.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 13/02/2010 21:32

What's a left handed pen? DH is left handed and writes like a contortionist so I don't let him help ds2 Luckily his handwriting teacher is left handed and she has been giving him some tips. Ds2 is (imo) mildly dyspraxic though so I suspect his handwriting would be a bit ropey if he was right handed as well. It is fairly legible, which is the most important thing for later (and being able to write reasonably fast - so I don't hassle him too much about presentation, just pleased he's writing without dramatics now).

badgerhead · 14/02/2010 08:56

Do a search for Anything Left Handed they have a whole raft of things for left handed people including pens, scissors & handwriting books etc.

Builde · 15/02/2010 16:01

My dd is lefthanded. She is in year 1 and writes well (she is quite artistic and enjoys writing). However, 50% of the time she will write backwards and some letters are back to front.

When she does write in the conventional direction, she prefers to write upside down!

E.g. the writing is correct but she is doing it upside down by turning the page round.

Her teacher got some advice on this and the advisor she went to said to let her write whatever way was comfortable. (I think teacher was rather surprised about the upside down writing).

Because my dd is happy, enjoys writing and writes well, I'm not doing anything. However, is she had problems, i could imagine taking further advice.

violetqueen · 15/02/2010 18:02

They sell these
yoro pens www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/acatalog/yoropens.html
in Smiths.Pencils as well.
They are designed so that your hand doesn't obscure what you're writing.
My messy right handed son used to use them - but they didn't stand up to the rough and tumble of an overpacked school bag.

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