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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Handwriting pens for left handed child

42 replies

winesolveseverything · 23/08/2021 10:44

Morning,

My son starts high school in September and I've been given a stationery list to supply him with.

He is left handed and we have had massive struggles with handwriting- mostly because his hand smudges the words.

We have this pretty much sorted now- but I know for a fact that he cannot write with a biro. It just ends up a total illegible mess.

At primary he used the Berol handwriting pens that school supplied, and I'm tempted to just buy more of these- however I've seen other brands online which claim they erase etc so am a bit stuck.

Just wondered if anyone can recommend anything that they have found works- especially with left handed children.

I used fountain pens at his age and really wish that this was still a thing- although I'm not sure they would be any better!

Thanks in advance...

OP posts:

Tinkerbellfluffyboots79 · 23/08/2021 11:01

Fountain pens would be even more of a mess for a left hander.

Not sure how Berol pens are better than biro, I remember them being messy. I write with a biro for work - nurse and don’t smudge my notes?. It does depend how he writes I suppose but I’ve just used the same pens everyone else does,

I use the changing colour pens for work as I need the red ink for stuff but generally I’ll use whatever there is. My son is left handed too, but still uses pencils and has a v unusual grip and massive handwriting. Will be interesting to see how he gets on with pens. You could just buy a selection then the one he gets on best with buy more?

UserStillatLarge · 23/08/2021 11:04

Also not sure why the handwriting pens are better than a biro - they are more "inky" iyswim?

My left handed DD uses Zebra Z grip pens.

SometimesRavenSometimesParrot · 23/08/2021 11:06

Have a look at the pens in Kenji. Really cheap and ink dries pretty instantly

Blankscreen · 23/08/2021 11:06

Yep fountain pens just create an absolute mess for my DS.

We find the frixion pens good as they are not too wet and smudgy.

SnarkyBag · 23/08/2021 11:08

I like the stabilo easi range (I have awful hand writing and find gripping regular size pens hard) they do them for both both right and left handers.

Original poster

winesolveseverything · 23/08/2021 11:16

Thank you... will do some investigating...

He writes quite fast- and biros just tend to run away if that makes sense, his work is just a smudged mess whenever he tries with one.

I think the Berol type just tend to be a bit slower as there is a bit of friction with that type of pen tip.

It's just a minefield.
Some of these are quite expensive too, and when they are packaged, you can't always tell what type of pen tip they have. I've bought some which have turned out to be posh ball point pens!

OP posts:

Haventhadaneggsinceeaster · 23/08/2021 11:20

I have ended up adjusting by turning my paper at an angle so my hand is below my writing. When I was at university and having to write very fast my paper ended up turned sideways- don’t know if it is worth suggesting he tries this. I am not conscious if I still turn the paper as much but I am aware I no longer smudge

Crocky · 23/08/2021 11:27

I’m a sideways writer too and don’t smudge but my ds did better with a left handed pen.

StCharlotte · 23/08/2021 11:34

@Haventhadaneggsinceeaster

I do this too. It was a game changer.

I use these pens. So smooth and nice to write with.

Carycy · 23/08/2021 11:44

As a lefthander who used to get grief for messy work but still not allowed a biro this makes me so angry. It is utterly ridiculous. Nobody in adulthood uses a god damn fountain pen. I would complain to the school on grounds of discrimination. I just don’t get why lefthanders are still treated like this. We fall over ourselves to help everything else dyslexia etc but if you left handed and something as simple as a girl can sort you out it’s a hard no.

I say this as someone who is bitter for getting no extra time in exams, always sorting half as much as everyone else. Never being able to take keep up with note taking in lectures etc. yet my mates all went for dyslexia tests a month before their finals all got diagnosed with some form of “dyslexia” every one of them. All got extra time in their exams.

By the way being a lefty will get them far in life. You have to constantly adapt and it makes you a stronger person in the end.

Carycy · 23/08/2021 11:45

*writing not sorting
*biro not girl

Lol. Clearly my typing is a bad as my handwriting.

mrspiersmorgan · 23/08/2021 12:03

DD is left handed and likes to use pens from the Stabilo easy start left hand range. www.whsmith.co.uk/products/stabilo-easy-start-blue-left-handed-handwriting-pen-05mm-nib-blue-ink/4006381468343.html

crochetandcoffeebreaks · 23/08/2021 12:09

I also turn my paper sideways to write, but I do recommend the paper mate inkjoy gel pens, they dry quite quickly - I use these for outlining artwork as well as writing.

Datsandcogs · 23/08/2021 12:16

Another stabile vote here!

SnarkyBag · 23/08/2021 12:17

The easi has a berol type tip and you can by refill cartridges rather than having to buy a new pen everytime

Tashface · 23/08/2021 12:25

I'm a leftie, and at school it was compulsory to write with a fountain pen. The outside of my left, little finger was permanently blue (and that left smudgy marks on everything too). I wouldn't recommend it!

Fancyfencepost · 23/08/2021 13:06

DS is a leftie, used to buy left handed fountain pens, don’t know if they are still a tning

StCharlotte · 23/08/2021 13:54

LH fountain pen nibs didn't help me at all as the nib was bent to the left and would scratch if you drew a line going left (say when crossing a t) as left handers are wont to do. It would scratch or even splatter. For an inkpen I used Shaeffer (sp?) pens which had a nib that would mould to your writing so they weren't left or right handed. It did mean no one could borrow your pen though.

peaceinourtime · 23/08/2021 15:20

I too am left handed, another vote for Ink Joy pens, they are the best.

Tangledtresses · 23/08/2021 15:59

My left handed son likes those pilot pens too

WombatChocolate · 23/08/2021 17:01

My DC is a leftie. Learned to use a pen with a Lamy left handed fountain pen. Years later, still the pen of choice and manages not to smudge.

Fountain pens are less popular these days, but are still an option to consider.

Babdoc · 23/08/2021 17:07

I’m left handed and don’t have a problem with ordinary biros. I just position my hand below the writing so I don’t smudge it.

JaninaDuszejko · 23/08/2021 17:09

Paper at a 45° angle sorts the problem. Can't believe primary teachers aren't teaching this as standard.

tywysoges · 23/08/2021 17:14

@Fancyfencepost

DS is a leftie, used to buy left handed fountain pens, don’t know if they are still a tning

DH bought a fountain pen last week with a LH nib.

Original poster

winesolveseverything · 23/08/2021 17:26

Thank you everyone for the input. I'm making a list and will narrow down further from there!

Just to clarify- he is allowed any sort of pen at school in blue or back, it's just that he doesn't get on with biro type ones.

He does tilt the page on an angle.

I took him to a left handed shop a few years ago- they were fab and assessed his writing, we left with a A3 laminated sheet with tilted lines on it to help line up his page, and also some great pencils. School were really on board with helping too. He can write beautifully with a pencil, even more so if he is printing his letters, but throw in a pen and joined up writing and it all goes to pot.. 🙄

Thanks again for all the ideas

OP posts:

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