Left Handed Children

Image descriptionLeft-handed children have particular problems in learning basic skills using the wrong tools. These problems are easily overcome with some sensible guidance and use of simple left-handed implements, but they often get neither and end with an unfair reputation as being slow, awkward and clumsy as a result!

Left-handed scissors and cutting


Cutting out simple shapes using scissors can be a real challenge for young left handed children forced to use right handed scissors. Left-handed scissors have the blades reversed so that the child can the cutting line and so that the natural squeezing movement of the left hand pushes the blades together to make them cut rather than pushing them apart so that the card or paper gets stuck sideways inside the blades.

Click the play button on the video below for a full explanation.


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Writing left-handed


Left-handed writing requires a correct grip and correct paper positioning. If they are made to write like right-handers, but using their left hand, they often end up with a very cramped position and a "hook" wiring style that is painful and slow - not great for exams in later life! As children start to use ink pens, a left-handed nib cut-off in the correct direction is essential if they want to avoid a blotty mess.

Click play on the video below for more information on writing left-handed.


 

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Even simple things like sharing a desk can be made complicated - always put the left-hander on the left-side of the shared desk or there will be clashing elbows and arguments all day.


Mirror writing


Image descriptionLeft-handers sometimes slip naturally into mirror-writing flowing from right to left and perfectly readable to them (or to anyone with a mirror). Famous examples of this were Leonardo da Vinci and Lewis Carroll



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Visitor comments on this page

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By Caitie
6th May 2008 - 11:12pm

oh geeze. I remember growing up and having all the problems. Like when I was in the first grade and we were learning numbers and stuff. I would get hassled for beign left handed. I was weird. The odd ball. I think it's cool now. Hahaha. I'm the cool one. We talk about being left handed in my math class a lot. There's a few of us in there. I have a twin brother who is right handed. And my grandfather on my fathers side is left handed and my cousin on my fathers side is also left handed. We're the only three left in my family that are left handed. It's cool. =]

KEVIN IS GAY - By Ash
7th April 2008 - 7:52pm

RIGHT HANDERS ARE HOTT!

kevin is gay

RIGHT HANDERS ARE HOTT!

left handers are gay like kevin!

haha - By kevin
7th April 2008 - 7:47pm

yeh screw typin properly ayes lol... ASH ur a dud haha lefties rule we're all good lookin =]

By Ash
7th April 2008 - 7:44pm

shuddup kevin!
your a freak!

:p BAHAA!

RIGHT HANDERS FTW!

bullsh*t - By kevin
7th April 2008 - 7:42pm

I'm 17 and I'm a lefty. Never had any problems in life with anything this is stupid and an insult. Go f*ck yourself mate

By Ashley
5th April 2008 - 1:49am

So I am only 14, almost 15, and this is sooo true. I always have so much trouble with cutting. The schools always had "normal" scissors and they got really annoying to use. I just hope when I get older and have kids they will be left handed. :)

punishment for being left handed - By prashant
1st April 2008 - 3:35pm

Born in rural state of Nepal, i was always beaten by one of my teacher for being left handed.The daily punishment includes writing 3 pages each day with right hand and to stop writing with left hand AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!
What a terrible days it were!!

By Greta
30th January 2008 - 1:18pm

I found for myself, to learn anything from my right handed mother, the easy was to stand face to face and see the mirror image. It worked with sowing by hand, but for any fine motor skill it would too.

By Julia
24th January 2008 - 12:00am

Both of my parents are right handed and me and my two brothers are left handed. When my oldest brother was learning to tie his shoes, my parents couldnt figure out why he just couldnt do it! But when my uncle (who is left handed) babysat one night, my brother picked it up with no problem, and had to teach my other brother, and he taught me. Its amazing what a difference hand prefrence makes in learning

lefty family - By anexaxa4
21st January 2008 - 11:53pm

hi,let me tell you that i am proud of being left handed i got it from my grandma, my husband and his sister are lefties too and my two girls 5

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