Any tips for a left-handed child?

Question

My daughter is nearly 3 and is left-handed. When she writes (scribbles) she goes from the right side of the page to the left. Is this normal for a left-handed child? She's not ready to start writing her letters yet, but should I be teaching her to start from the left side of the page? I find it really hard to show her how to do things with her left hand. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm left handed and when I started Kindergarten I would always start on the right side of the paper and work left, I also made most of my letters backwards. They fixed this by spending a little extra time with me and showing me where to start. My best advice is to just let her  be at this point, she's only 3, but when you do start teaching her all her letters, try showing her starting on the left side of the paper and moving right and having her write each letter underneath the one you did and she'll get it eventually.

Answer 2

when you read to her point as you read from left to the right.

when handing her things, have her reach for them with her R hand as well as her left.

also, hold her hand as see if she's the least bit interested in using her r hand to color as well as her L.

learn how to teach a child how to hold a pencil when she traces letters and shapes w/her left hand. she should not hold her fist above or over the pencil as this makes writing cursive much more difficult later in life.

Answer 3

Show her how to write the letters, as her doodles want to have meaning.  As you read to her, trace the way the words and lines go - L-R, T-B.

Some lefties like to turn the paper 90 degrees to write, others hold it "normal."  Whatever is most comfortable for her.

As for showing her how to do stuff, it might be easiest if you face her, so her left is aligned with your right - "mirror image."   Otherwise, if you have a leftie friend or relative, have them show her.  Or, just let her figure out how to do it herself.

Maybe she has a hidden talent for writing and reading Hebrew.

Answer 4

I'm am left-handed and I do not start from right side of the page. Don't teach her that way!! It will just cause her trouble when she actually gets into school. teach her from the left side of the page her hand will drag across the letters that she just wrote and when she starts using pens or markers it will be a common thing thing for her to have ink on the bottom part of her hand from it dragging across. And also she is only 3 so don't push her to hard she will learn in time and also mostly in school. But I don't recommend teaching her to write from the wrong side of page.

Answer 5

teach them to play pitcher and first base

Answer 6

i am left handed and when i wright i have to turn the paper side ways just to write straight!!!!!  The top of the paper should be tilted to the right side it will help a lot!!!!!

NOTE-i hope this helps and good luck!!!!

Answer 7

I am a lefty. One thing you might want to check is the writing utensil that she is using. For us lefties some writing utensils rub off on our hand or smear the letters since we have to rub over them to write the next letter. If that is happening to her, she could be doing it out of a cleanliness issue. I know that sounds wierd for a 3 yr old, but I have heard it from several other children that they feel "icky".

Also might want to check the kind of paper, it it has spirils you might want to put them on top or start at the back of the notebook so the spirals are on the right side so she isnt rubbing on those either.

As previously mentioned tipping the page and restarting her on the left, the repetition will eventually catch on.

As for other activities, dont get too worried. We adapt. When I was a kid I could never cut with left handed scissors in my left hand, so I learned to cut with right handed scissors in my left hand. As she learns her letters and practices printing she will learn how to make it "feel good" and "match" what she is seeing  and what the other kids around her are doing.

Answer 8

Don't worry about it now.  She's not focusing much on writing at all yet.

Got some good tips above for when she's ready though.

Answer 9

"Nearly 3" is still very young.  I would not be concerned about her directionality at this point.  The best thing you can do is spend time reading with her.  As you read, slide your finger under the words as you say them.  While she can't read along yet, she will get more used to the motion.  As you start to teach her how to write letters she'll get used to the left to right feel, also.  

One more thing, when my parents were teaching my sister and I to write (we're both lefties, they're both righties) my mom said they did mirroring meaning they sat across the table from us to so we would copy them.  When they taught my brother (a righty) they sat next to him so he could mimic.

Hope this helps  :)