Left Hander- how to correct?

[schellen]

I know a group of creative people who are all left-handed. If your children are left-handed, what’s wrong with that? You are stifling their natural tendencies. It’s like telling a crab to walk straight.


My dad was one of those unfortunate cases who was forced to use his right hand. Now that the pressure is off and he doesn’t live with his mother anymore, he uses both hands for for different "actions" like eating and writing.

One thing to note in school though: Please inform the form teacher when he/she is arranging the class seating plan. If your child sits next to a right-hander, they may have "elbow accidents" while doing work. All the teacher needs to do is just swap their positions and the problem is solved. Another teacher the child may have to inform is probably the P.E. teacher.

[kiasu_pig]

i am a left-hander too. My personal opinion is, it’s indeed very troublesome to be a left-hander - e.g. driving, opening can using opener etc - and the unfortunate incidents of elbows "fighting" at dinning tables … My mum had tried correcting me when young, but gave up eventually.

[concern2]

Hi JHJC,


Ok, my husband's point of view is the inconvenience it will bring, esp. when he has to do NS, difficulty aiming with rifle. My opinion is, no need to correct, but I respect my husband's point of view, so instead of forcing our son to use his right hand in everything, we encourage him to use his right hand MORE OFTEN. How? Learning to play the piano is one of them, and certainly violin/harp/violin needs 2 hands to coordinate. This way, he's exercising both sides of his brain.

In case you are wondering whether my son plays any musical instrument? Well, I tried, but he wasn't interested, so we got into Abacus from CMA instead (use 2 hands)!!! :lol:

[cloudy]

I used my left hand when comes to writing and eating.. but when using knifes, scissors, computer mouse and playing racket games, I used my right hand... weird . My parents never bother to correct me during those days.


My mum used to look after this boy who is a left hander by nature, but his parents managed to \"force change\" him into using right hand. For some reasons, my mum find this change caused some 'slowness' in his thinking.

My younger girl 3+ is also a lefty and we are letting nature taking its own course.

[MLR]

cloudy:

I used my left hand when comes to writing and eating.. but when using knifes, scissors, computer mouse and playing racket games, I used my right hand... weird . My parents never bother to correct me during those days.

You are most probably ambidextrous, someone naturally uses both hands easily for tasks. My poly lecturer is one, it was facinating to see him writing on the whiteboard.

[KingRascal]

Hi I am like MLR. Eating and writing with left hand…and most others with right hand having more strength. I have not found anything inconvenient in my life at all. In fact I do not even see a need to get anything specifically for left-handed use. One example, the fruit peeler I move the blades toward my myself, meaning in an inward direction, rather than the conventional outwards movement. Thus it’s not an issue at all with daily things.


Let’s allow the children to develop in their own unique ways…Cheers!

[MLR]

japhys:

Hi I am like MLR.

:oops: Its not me, its my sister.

[schellen]

MLR:

You are most probably ambidextrous, someone naturally uses both hands easily for tasks. My poly lecturer is one, it was facinating to see him writing on the whiteboard.

I can write with either hand too but I take a longer time with my left one due to lack of use. (FYI, I am right-handed.) I just decided to teach myself to write with my left hand one day due to boredom. I just can't write in cursive with it.

[cnimed]

Both my kids (1+ and 5) are lefties. I let nature take its course (though my FIL - who was a natural lefty forced to switch hand - kept tsking over it.)


It's useful to read the following link on how writing is different for Lefties:
http://www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com/left-hand.html

Also, I printed out this poster that shows the correct writing posture and stuck it on my children's table where my elder one can refer to it anytime.
http://handedness.org/posters/leftwrite.pdf

The most important thing to note is to make sure the child does not hook his hand while writing - this will lead to cramps - and get a good pen that glides smoothly with minimum smudging. I went through the writing position with my son. He does not like tilting the paper as recommended by most, but he knows to adjust his position so that he is able to write and see what he is writing without craning his neck or hooking his wrist.

For teaching stuff, I am right-handed but am also able to use my left hand for many things, so it's not a problem for us. I tell my children that everyone has a \"stronger\" hand and a \"weaker\" hand, but both hands can be used and are equally useful, and the less you use one hand, the weaker it becomes.

[3Boys]

I am a lefty, as is my Dad, and my eldest boy. Leave it be lah! Left handers have a natural advantage when it comes to racquet games, ask the tennis players out there how they feel when the meet a lefty (I hate playing lefties even though I am one myself). Remember the dynamic badminton duo of the nineties for China, Yang Yang and Zhao Jianhua? Both lefties .


Life is good as a lefty, I luurve it.....