<![CDATA[Left hand or right hand?]]>Would like to seek advice from forummers here. Dd who is a little over 3 is left handed. But since Nursery this year, her teachers hv been getting her to write using right hand. So now when I see her holding a pencil, it is with right hand. But her teachers also told me to train her as her right hand is really weak ie she can’t really write. Which is rightly so since she does everything using left (except holding chopsticks with right which was also taught -not consciously to her using right sometime back as i just modelled to her using right) and her right hand is very weak. I tried to switch her to using left hand to write but she is very resistant, saying teacher ask her to write using right.


Now,I am in a dilemma. I want her to use whichever hand which is most natural to her and I believe it’s her left hand. She writes on the white board using left hand. But I also do not want to confuse her since she associate writing using pencil with right now. I also read that is it not advisable to switch them to using right hand if they are indeed left handed. BTW, she is the only left hand in our family and we do not know why! But the teacher mentioned that if they are taught at a young age, they are okay! (and I think its quite true, since she uses the chopstick with right) Her Chinese teacher who is also a left hander but uses right hand to write says that she is taught from young to write using right hand. Now, shld i just go with the flow and strengthened her right hand or make the decision to switch her back to left and get the teacher to support that?

Frankly I did not expect her to have writing problems as she is a lot more hands on than my ds who do not have much problem writing. She plays with the clay a lot more, she uses the scissors at an earlier age, she writes on the white board a home etc but mostly using left hand. So, it makes sense to switch her back to left. But then again, I am not sure if writing using left hand is better. I think they will have a harder time as writing materials, exercise books are all geared towards right hander and left hander have a disadvantage?

Appreciate your reply as I do want to act on it fast if we need to switch her to left hand and inform the teachers.

MTIA

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/31873/left-hand-or-right-handRSS for NodeMon, 04 May 2026 17:32:58 GMTFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:46:00 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:16:16 GMT]]>I am left-handed. I do everything with my left hand except when I am using the computer mouse. Never had much issues except when I wanted to learn Chinese calligraphy, the strokes were a little difficult to master for a leftie.


I have heard of stories where some children started stuttering when they were forced to switch from left-hand to right-hand for writing.

- M

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/728467https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/728467Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:16:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:30:15 GMT]]>Now my child didn’t display any dominance in either hands until 3. He was equally comfortable writing and doing everything else with either hand but we noted how his right hand seems to be a little stronger than the left. I was happy to see that he switches the pencil with ease from one hand to another while doing his worksheets.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/713922https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/713922Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:30:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:22:52 GMT]]>

cherrygal:
There is a research study that says lefties may not be able to fully develop their brain potential if they are forced to become right-handers. Advice from the researchers was to let them use their natural hands. Lefties are smart and creative pple. Only drawback is they may do the writing strokes differently and they drag their hands when they write.

Yes indeed. By all means introduce the child to use the alternate hand to write/eat etc but don't force.

I was a natural leftie but forced to use my right hand. Somehow, I don't learn things the usual way. One example is I always like to read from the back of the book/newspapers/mags to the first page. Don't get me wrong, I don't read reverse but I just like to start from last chapters/pages. Now, I write/use chop sticks with right hand but my left hand has faster reflex and stronger muscles.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/713917https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/713917Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:22:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:02:11 GMT]]>I am left handed too. Similar to Jade, I was forced to write with my right hand fm kindergarten but other than writing, almost everything else is with my deominant left hand, such as holding chopsticks, playing games,etc.. There are somethings that I can do with both hands :evil: , such as coloring, drawing lines/technical drawing (with right hand holding d ruler), ironing... I am not sure if this was due to the use of right hand instead of my natural left from young.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710455https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710455Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:02:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:43:41 GMT]]>

jenao:
Looks like left hander can write with both right and left hand. I will let her

explore whichever hand she is comfortable with at the moment since she is just
starting out to write. She seems to be using a lot more left but sometimes
right too. Spoken to the teachers and they too agree that she can write with
any hand that she is comfortable with. They will also observe her and let me
know which hand she prefers. She did leave a note to inform me that when they
ask dd which hand is for writing, she pointed to right but when observed, she
uses both left and right!
Jenao, I think being ambidextrous is really cool! :imcool:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710395https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710395Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:43:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:48:53 GMT]]>Looks like left hander can write with both right and left hand. I will let her

explore whichever hand she is comfortable with at the moment since she is just
starting out to write. She seems to be using a lot more left but sometimes
right too. Spoken to the teachers and they too agree that she can write with
any hand that she is comfortable with. They will also observe her and let me
know which hand she prefers. She did leave a note to inform me that when they
ask dd which hand is for writing, she pointed to right but when observed, she
uses both left and right!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710154https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/710154Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:48:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:43:51 GMT]]>

jenao:
Hquek, insider and opsgal,


Are you saying that on hindsight, you will get your kid to use left hand to write instead of using right? I find that a lot of lefties are trained to use right hand and its an Asian thing.
I have already train my kid to use right hand to write instead of left... not that I mind my kid using left hand. Reasons like grandparents keep making remarks like we should train the correct way to right with the correct hand.

For things like picking up food to eat, my kid can do so with both hands. 😂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708626https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708626Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:43:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:22:23 GMT]]>

concern2:
I remember posting in this forum about the same topic - and I finally found it! Here are what some other parents had said:


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3403

Interesting.. :idea: Thanks concern2 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708092https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708092Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:22:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:56:29 GMT]]>I remember posting in this forum about the same topic - and I finally found it! Here are what some other parents had said:


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3403

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708005https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/708005Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:56:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:23:23 GMT]]>

jenao:
Would like to seek advice from forummers here. Dd who is a little over 3 is left handed. But since Nursery this year, her teachers hv been getting her to write using right hand. So now when I see her holding a pencil, it is with right hand. But her teachers also told me to train her as her right hand is really weak ie she can't really write. Which is rightly so since she does everything using left (except holding chopsticks with right which was also taught -not consciously to her using right sometime back as i just modelled to her using right) and her right hand is very weak. I tried to switch her to using left hand to write but she is very resistant, saying teacher ask her to write using right.



MTIA
Ds1 is a lefty. When he was in playgroup many many years back, I had to attend his meet teacher parent meeting and his teacher was very concerned and she said that my son couldn't hold his pencil properly to write. I found it strange since he's doing ok at home. :? As I was querying the teacher further, I realised that she had been forcing him to write with his right hand, which he was unable to. After telling the teacher that ds is a lefty, she had no more issues after that day.

Now, ds in sec 2 and in NCC. The problem he's facing now is whenever he has to go for shooting practice, he's again forced to use his right hand; for safety reasons. He will always complain of his right arm aching after every shooting session. :sad:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707995https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707995Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:23:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:36:22 GMT]]>Yes jenao, I won’t force ds2 to become a righty, not then and not now. My thoughts are more of that he was born this way and I don’t feel it’s a crippling disability. I didnt like that we had to constantly battle with him to make sure he doesnt use left hand. Actually when i was supervising his work, i didnt give 2 hoots about which hand he was using, only DH would. Rather to choose other battles to fight.


DH told me that he was a lefty but was caned into becoming a righty. So DS2 may be lefty becos of genes.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707982https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707982Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:36:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:34:29 GMT]]>I can understand why parents "force" their lefty kids to use right hands as this world is dominated by right-handed people. All the products are produced for right-handed people. However, increasingly, we see products produced for lefties.


My dd1 is the only lefty in our family. As first-time parents then, we read about forcing children to use their unnatural hand will dampen their confidence so we decided to let her be. We were not very sure then but we decided to follow our basic instincts (not to force a young child) than to follow the norm. We even told our parents not to "force" her to use right hand or to remind her that she was special.

Now that she has grown up, I have asked her before if being a lefty has brought her problems. She said no and she is happy to be a lefty. 🙂

Oh, we never have problems at mealtimes. And she knows where to sit when eats out so that she does not cause inconvenience to others :-).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707981https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707981Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:34:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:50:17 GMT]]>I am a lefty..my dad is a very traditional man...I was caned to ensure that I use my right hand to write. I still remember those time cos it was really v unpleasant for me...the crying n the silent question inside me why my dad has to insist that I cannot use my natural left hand to write (I remember feeling \"sorry\" for my left hand that it was not allowed to write when it was much wanted to 🙂 I was in kindy then). I remembered \"giving chance\" to my left hand to write whenever dad was not watching n unfortunately when got caught, I wd be caned. Eventually I learned to write with right hand n am still using it. But when come to sports eg bowling racquet games, my natural left hand dominates...that's because I pick up sports in school n dad not around to catch me w my left hand :). At home, I was trained to use chopsticks w right hand. This I could understand cos otherwise my chopsticks will be \"fighting\" with the person's whose sitting at my left side.


All these years, I hv this feeling that because I was not allowed to use my left hand to write, somehow, something is \"blocked\". I can't explain what that is..but like higher order creativity that is with me cannot flow out. Sorry dun know if I make sense here.

Anyway, if my kids were born left handed (which they r not), I will not force them to write w right hand. But for social reasons, I will train them to use chopsticks w their right hand.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707979https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707979Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:50:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:46:02 GMT]]>** deleted double post **

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707978https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707978Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:46:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:29 GMT]]>

jenao:
But then again, I am not sure if writing using left hand is better. I think they will have a harder time as writing materials, exercise books are all geared towards right hander and left hander have a disadvantage?


Appreciate your reply as I do want to act on it fast if we need to switch her to left hand and inform the teachers.

MTIA
Don't worry. I didn't experience any difficulties or disadvantages all these years 😂 I use the same stationery as right handers. But I can't write chinese calligraphy because strokes not right. Haha!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707965https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707965Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:39:32 GMT]]>I am a left hander. In the early 80s, even my kindergarten teachers would not force me to switch to left hand. So I am baffled why your DD’s teachers insist her to write with right hand and to train her right hand. If I were you, I would let the teacher know that my decision is to let DD use her natural left hand to write. She should not force her to use rt hand during lessons. Instead, she should now encourage her to use left hand.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707964https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707964Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:39:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:33:18 GMT]]>There is a research study that says lefties may not be able to fully develop their brain potential if they are forced to become right-handers. Advice from the researchers was to let them use their natural hands. Lefties are smart and creative pple. Only drawback is they may do the writing strokes differently and they drag their hands when they write.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707908https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707908Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:33:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:20:51 GMT]]>Actually left and right hand does not matter. Right only because in this world, many things are built for right-handers. In fact if both hands are equally active it is good for the development of both brain hemispheres.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707877https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707877Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:20:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:19:26 GMT]]>Hquek, insider and opsgal,


Are you saying that on hindsight, you will get your kid to use left hand to write instead of using right? I find that a lot of lefties are trained to use right hand and its an Asian thing.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707876https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707876Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:19:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:56:06 GMT]]>Obama is lefty, our PM is lefty. Why young kids cannot?


DS2 seems to be a lefty becos his left hand seem more dominant. But DH forced him to be a rightie. He is now using right hand to write, but will subconsciously use his left for other activities. I don’t agree with that but damage has been done.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707864https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707864Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:56:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Left hand or right hand? on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:34:47 GMT]]>My kid used to write with left hand too. My father advise that I train my kid to use right hand. So right now my kid is using right hand to hold pen.


\"it not advisable to switch them to using right hand if they are indeed left handed\"- Not sure about this...my kid has no trouble writing with right hand so far.

Actually I am wondering who state the rule that everyone must write with right hand. 🤷

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707850https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/707850Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:34:47 GMT