My child is three months shy of being five years old . . . Any ideas . . .?

Question

He appears to be more comfortable coloring with his right hand and writing with his left . . . Does anyone know of an at home test - something I can do on my own - that will help me determine the best hand for letter instruction? Also does anyone know of a pen or pencil that is especially designed for children with unusual grips or used to correct unusual grips? We are trying to make sure my son has the basic writing skills required for kindergarten so any tips would be greatly appreciated. We have been working with activity books purchased at a local teaching supply store but again, any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I suggest you not sweat the small stuff. Just give him some writing activities and hand him the pencil and see which hand he writes better with. Does it really matter? He will eventually favor one hand over the other in time. I don't think this should be of any importance. That is great he uses both hands. There are many people out here that use both hands.

Answer 2

We were taught to sit the child at a table , preferably with his feet flat on the floor.  The paper should be put directly in front of him, neither to the right or left.  Let him take the paper and then put a pencil in the same place, which ever hand he uses is his writing hand.  The reason to do the paper as well as the pencil is that where the paper is placed can affect which hand the child uses.  Many children do use both hands, my friends son plays cricket and tennis left handed but writes with his right hand.

You can get large triangular pencils and crayons that are really good for grip as well as things to put on ordinary pencils.  I don't know where you live so can't suggest a shop but you should get them somewhere on the Internet.  Go onto the BBC site (www.bbc.co.uk/learning)  There are lots of printable activities for writing and other things.  You could also try Enchanted Learning.  Don't push him too much.  One fun thing to do is to draw with both hands at the same time.  Try doing a tree, Father Christmas etc.  Do it with him.  Also Doing figure of eights on their side ( 'lazy eights')  over and over is really good for hand eye co-ordination.  Brain Gym suggests doing them, either written or just in the air always before writing.

Answer 3

This sounds too simple but most times I can tell what hand a child is, just by holding something like a pencil out to the child and see which hand he uses to grab it.

Most office supply stores carry a special foam grip you slide on the pencil to help the child hold the pencil, some of the grips have a shape that helps the child hold it the right way.

I am left handed but cut with scissors,and eat with my right hand.

I would let your child use what ever hand he wants to , pretty soon those muscles in the hand will develop and he will know which hand is best for writing.

When I was growing up , the teachers thought left handed people were just using the wrong hand. I spend an entire year in 2nd grade using my right hand- or else I was punished.  Thank god my third grade teacher knew better.