My DS is a leftie, advice and tips please :D

[KaySamuels]

My ds is 3yrs2months and we have known for quite a while that he is left handed, has always held anything given to him in his left hand. He has justed started using scissors and this made me think I should maybe get him some of his own? As he can't use the regular ones uless he uses both hands!

Is anyone out there left handed who could adise, or maybe your dc is left handed and you have encountered things I should bear in mind? He is starting nursery in January.

TIA

my 4 year old is a leftie - the only thing we got for him was a pair of scissors (he can use the others bit it is easier for him to use the left handed ones).

here

think we got the blue and yellow first scissors.

Thanks. TBH it only occurred to me it may require some thoguht when we encountered the scissors thing last week so maybe that will be the only thing. Can I ask did you let the school know so they could provide them too? Don't want to seem precious!

LOL. I am obviously stupid, but read the thread title as you were worried about son turning into Ken Livingstone/Tony Benn militant socialist!

All nurseries and classrooms have both left-handed and right handed scissors, you can mention it to them if you want but tbh they will notice this themselves and provide accordingly.

It really isn't a big deal being left handed, don't make it into something different about him! Both myself and DS are left-handed.

lol at kittylouise's idea of your son being a 'leftie'

There is nothing to know/do about being a leftie,

I am a leftie, and my dd is too(she is almost 4) the only slight problem that happens occasionally is the scissor thing, but schools have left-handed scissors anyway.

My ds is a leftie. He has the scissors. The only other thing we think about is where the mouse is when he uses the computer. Infact, as it's usually on the right of the keyboard (for dh and I) he seems to use his right hand for that, but I think he'd have been more accurate, more quickly, if I'd thought to always pop it onto the left side. And if he's sat at a table with a (r-handed) friend drawing or painting, I always sit him on the left side, otherwise they crash elbows in the middle!

my ds is alos left handed. Here's a link to a website I found a bit helpful, to help them learn to write

handedness.org/action/leftwrite.html

Can't speak for every left handed person in the world obviously, but i use my right hand for a lot of things, you just adapt naturally.

For example...I use the mouse with my right hand.

I kick a ball with my right foot.

LOL at KL.

I am not looking on him being left handed negatively, just wanted to find out if there was anything else I needed to consider apart from scissors! Two of our well loved relatives are left handed so me and dp are quite pleased he is left handed.

Thanks for those links will check them out later.

I would say don't assume he'll want to do everything with his left - my mum is much more lhded than me and used to buy me left handed equipment for everything, when in fact I only use my left hand for about 60% of things (eg. I use the mouse with my left always, but use scissors with my right, so the lh scissors actually gave me trouble initially)

lh rulers are cool though.

Oh the only thing I can firmly say is don't ever let a school force him to write with a fountain pen. 'Tis just unfair.

Nursery should have left-handed scissors but ELC sell them very cheaply so you can always send in a pair with your ds's name on them.

Both my dd's are left-handed but apart from scissors haven't done anything special for them.

I think you're wonderful for wanting to know how to make life easier for your DS!

I'm a leftie, and the only "special" thing I need is a decent pair of LH scissors. DH threw mine away by accident recently () so I'll be mutilating the wrapping paper this Christmas.

I think it might be worth encouraging him, if you can, to do some stuff right-handed. I can't even sharpen a pencil left-handedly, nor can I open a tin... Has taken me years to learn the other way, despite my mum's best efforts to do everything left-handedly with me.

By the way, I love being left-handed (!) and I'm secretly hoping my DD turns out left-handed too, even though the world is a far simpler place if you're right-handed!

the school have left handed scissors anyway - as did playgroup. I did mention his left handedness - but they noticed it anyway

most left handed people just get used to doing things the right handed way.
except my grandad. he made everything in his house left hadnded. including th edoors and locks, and basically everything. sixty plus years later, we all just take it for granted.
dh is left haned. i think he wouldnt know what to do with left handed scissors

My Ds is a leftie . I did get him a left handed ruler . He is 8 and the numbers go the other way on it so really helpfull . His year 2 teacher told me his writing is scruffy and being left handed was a reason not an excuse . LOL He plays golf right handed and uses the computer right handed as well .

I'm a lefthander.

Obviously they are noted for being extremely talented and intelligent.

However I have been known to walk into double doors because they don't open the right way.

I self-taught knitting and play guitar because when somebody showed me I got completely confused.

I wear my watch on the other wrist.

Little things like the ticket barrier in car parks and on the tube are designed for right-handers.

Scissors are a problem but you get used to it.

Left-handed cheque books are AMAZING. But obviously not too much of a concern for your ds.

I still like to read magazines backwards, i.e. from back cover to front cover.

I see the magic eye pictures the wrong way round - the picture goes in instead of sticking out.

I need a two-way potato peeler.

If a picture's on a mug it's on the wrong side.

When someone's been cutting a loaf of bread then I cut a piece, my piece is all wonky.

Cupboard doors and washing machine doors are designed for righties.

It's all a big conspiracy. But one day left-handers will rule the world. We are truely gifted.

I'm left handed and so is DS1, neither of us give it a second thought.

Please don't assume your son will do better with leftie scissors, they confuse the life out of me despite being encouraged to use them at school!

It's good that you know which hand he's most comfortable with!
My DS is 3yrs, 4 months and switches from one hand to the other mid-drawing. The same when he's feeding himself. And he picks things up with either hand, not one over the other. I have to always make sure that when I pass him a pen or a fork, I put it down infront of him instead of putting it into one of his hands and choosing for him. His lines are always wobbly so I can't tell yet which side seems stronger. I like the fact that it's an innate (sp?) thing that hasn't been a result of outside influences. It's simply him.

It's all a big conspiracy. But one day left-handers will rule the world. We are truely gifted.

Thanks for all your replies, it's interesting to read such varied responses, the two relatives of ours that are left handed are my secret favourite family members I have to say, they are super!

When he starts writing, etc. , make sure he is positioned correctly with the paper pointing slightly to the right rather than the left which is the way his right handed friends will have their paper/exercise book.

I remember finding sewing lessons (!!! do they still do them??) very difficult because everything was upside down and back to front to me (when having things demonstrated by a right handed teacher)... but I doubt your 3 yr old son is quite into stitching homemade bedsocks quite yet ....

Although lefthanded, I can't use lefthanded scissors, much prefer right handed ones, whats that all about???!! I also text using right hand, and play table tennis right handed (odd?)

Congrats to your son for being left handed, it's very special!

I thought you meant politically . I read the firt bit and thought "wow.that's very young to be interested in politics!".

I'm a leftie, but can use right handed scissors. The only thing I can't do is use a fountain pen - my hand smudges what I've just written.

Mugs etc , and in fact the zip on my handbag are round the wrong way as well - I've just realised why that is