Your Left-Handed Child
If your child is left-handed, fret not! She is no less intelligent than other children. In fact, some people believe that left-handed people are smarter due to their ability to adapt to using their non-dominant hand. Many famous athletes are also left-handed. Even the iconic Albert Einstein was a leftie.
Before your child becomes a world famous scientist, she may need some guidance from you.
Guiding that left hand
With patience and guidance, you can help your child overcome difficulties with her school work. Writing, drawing, and cutting are some of the activities you can help her with.
Writing
Writing with the left hand is unusual in the sense that the pencil is ‘pushed’ rather than ‘pulled’. You can teach her the following for a more pleasant writing experience:
- Turn the paper 45° clockwise to prevent her palm from smudging the paper.
- Grip the pencil between thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
- Provide a sloping desk for an easier writing position.
- Avoid obstructions and try to use of a spiral pad where possible.
Drawing
You can get her to try drawing from right to left to prevent smudging. If drawing in a class or a group, position her to be on the leftmost side to prevent elbow-knocking.
Cutting
Where possible, provide her with left-handed scissors. In any case, have her align the cutting tip of the scissors with the dotted line for a straight cut. This may take some practice, but she will get it eventually.
