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What to do When your Child is Left-Handed

How can I help my left-handed child?

For the most part, parents don’t need to make many adaptations for a left-handed child–after all, one of the huge benefits of using the a non-dominant hand is versatility. But there are a few exceptions.

“All left-handers should have a proper pair of left-handed scissors at home and at school,” says Milsom. If your child’s school does not provide them, bring your own. “There is no such thing as ambidextrous scissors.”

Teaching proper writing technique from an early age is also essential. “Left to right movement across a page is not a natural direction for left-handed writers,” says Milsom. “The left hand follows the writing, pushing the tip into the paper, creating too much pressure and often smudging the work.” Your child may adapt with poor posture and awkward hand positions to compensate.

Start by showing your child how to set up their paper. Position the page to the left of their body midline and tilt the top of the page clockwise about 30 degrees. Then, encourage a tripod writing grip with the thumb and first two fingers. “Using a triangular pencil grip or an oversized pen barrel can help,” says Milsom. Lastly, the hand should be positioned at least two centimeters away from the end of the pen tip so it won’t obscure writing and smudge the page.

Milsom suggests that right-handed parents spend a day using only their left-hand in order to get a feeling for what life will be like for their child. She also encourages parents to face their child when teaching how to do up a zipper or tie shoelaces. “That way you’ll mirror your child and it will look like you’re doing everything with the opposite hand.” And remember, chances are your little left-hander is creative, she’ll adapt.

Meet our experts:

Lauren Milsom is the owner of Anythingleft-handed.co.uk and author of Your Left-Handed Child. She is a leftie and has a left- and right-handed child. Dr. James Hilton is a Toronto-based pediatrician.