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Raising a Lefty in a Right–Handed World

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     If your child has blond hair, dark hair or red hair, you don’t say he’s. A variety of hair, eye and skin colors are certainly not unusual. Raise your lefty with the same mindset! Just because he predominantly uses his left hand does not change anything, if you handle the trait in an upbeat, positive way.

     Eleven percent of the population is born left-handed. Is this inherited? In 2007, scientist Clyde Francks announced the isolation of a gene called LRRTM1 that contributes to left-handedness. Francks' research suggests the gene is inherited on the father's side.     Parents can monitor their child's handedness by keeping tabs on which hand reaches for toys and food or by noting which direction a child stirs with a spoon. Righties tend to stir clockwise, while lefties stir counterclockwise.     Babies usually start showing a hand preference between 7 and 9 months old but may not make a final distinction until they start school and learn to write.

     Lefties do think differently. This is because the left side of the brain, which controls the right hand, directs speech, language, writing, logic, math and science. The right side, which controls the left hand, is responsible for music, art, perception and emotion. The right side handles abstract, big picture ideas; the left side thinks in straight lines.     How about getting your lefty speaking lessons? Many recent presidents have been lefties, including Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. It is hard to believe it was common practice for schoolteachers to force children to switch to their right hand until the late 20th century. This created ambidextrous people.

     Some of the greatest artists in history have been lefties, including M.C. Escher, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. Painting isn't the only profession that favors lefties. Studies have identified large numbers of left-handed students and professors in schools of architecture, music and math.     However, this doesn't mean that all creative subjects are easy for left-handed children. Using equipment designed for right-handers can end in frustration. Prevent the problems by investing in good left-handed scissors. Right-handed scissors have the sharper part of the blade on the left side, so if a child tries to use them with his left hand (which he will), the dull part of the blade won’t cut the piece of paper or string. You can find these easily online—as well as smudge-free pencils and pens. Parents also can switch the settings on computers to make a mouse or cursor more lefty-friendly.     Another realm where lefties shine is sports. Left-handed fencers are more successful, as are left-handed boxers. Playing tennis left-handed didn’t stop John McEnroe or Martina Navratilova.

     In baseball, left-handed pitchers have been highly sought after since the sport's earliest days. Because most pitchers are right-handed, batters tend to have trouble clearly seeing a ball thrown by a lefty. The advantage for left-handed pitchers is even more pronounced against left-handed batters. In the 1980s, baseball managers began capitalizing on that dominance by relying on the left-handed specialist, a left-handed pitcher who came into the game to face just one left-handed batter in late innings.

     Make sure you celebrate your lefty! Lefties are uncommon in this right-handed world. Many a kitchen pot and coffee mug are made with handles for right-handed people—which right-handers don’t give a second thought about. Right hands are presented for handshakes, not the left hands. And there’s the whole elbow thing at a crowded table. A lefty will probably be sitting next to a right-handed person, which means they’ll be knocking elbows as they try to eat. I know about this one personally, as my hubby is left-handed. He always sits on my left side!

     Luckily, to make up for these injustices, nifty items like notebooks with the wire spiral on the right side make life easier. When you’re raising left-handed kids, treat them to some fun birthday gifts in addition to those scissors. That reminds those lefties how special they are.

Guess Who’s a Lefty? This list will amaze you!

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: Oprah.com, BrainJet.com, KinderCare.com

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