Raising a Lefty in Our Right-Handed World

If you are raising a left-handed child, you are probably thankful that he or she is growing up in the 21st century, a time when left-handedness is usually accepted and sometimes thought to be superior! Throughout history, however, left-handed people did not fare so well. In fact, many modern languages still associate the word “left” with a negative connotation and the word “right” to mean “correct.” In Spanish, Italian and French, “left” often means clumsy or awkward. In many Asian cultures, it is disrespectful to eat with one’s left hand, and in Ghana, it is very rude to hold out one’s left hand to greet someone or receive an object from another. Also, in Christianity, the right hand is usually associated with God and the left with Satan.

For all of these reasons, children throughout history have been forced to become right-handed, a process which, unfortunately, can lead to stuttering, dyslexia and other disabilities. However, many cultures (including our own) are now embracing left-handedness, offering left-handed scissors in schools, better desks for lefties and left-handed computer mice. Athletically, left-handedness has actually evolved into a positive trait. In baseball, being a left-handed hitter or pitcher is considered a specialized skill. Other sports where left-handedness puts players at an advantage are fencing, bowling and boxing. Unfortunately, despite the growing cultural value of left-handedness, society has not completely caught up. Lefties will continue to find disadvantages in various tasks, such as use of weaponry and power tools.

Parents often wonder when a child’s preference for left- or right-handedness is determined. Most babies use both hands for eating and picking up objects. As they begin to eat with utensils, they may switch between hands through their toddler years. According to most experts, children’s hand preference is determined between ages 3 and 6. By the time children are in school full time, they likely have decided which hand is more comfortable for writing, and that will be their dominant hand.

Parents also may ask what the chances are of having a lefty. Some studies find that the dominant hand is inherited from the father’s side and that if both parents are left-handed, chances are much greater that they will have a lefty. For example, According to The Natural Superiority of the Left-Hander by James T. DeKay, if both parents are left-handed, there's a 50 percent chance that their children will be left-handed, too. But if neither parent is a lefty, the probability decreases to only 2 percent. Other research, however, has found that 75 percent of left-handed people have two right-handed parents. Conclusion? It is somewhat unpredictable whether you, as a parent, will be raising a left-handed child.

So if you have determined that you do have a lefty at home, how can you help him or her succeed in our right-handed world? One major area is writing, often a great challenge for left-handed students. Gina Landfair, an occupational therapist at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital, was quoted in “Tips for Teaching a Left-Handed Child” on Education.com. Here are some of her suggestions:

• Teach the left-handed child to tilt the paper to the right as he or she practices writing.
• Ensure the child is grasping the writing utensil properly. Try to encourage the left-handed student to hold the pen or pencil the correct way rather than with a “hook” grasp.
• Purchase quick-drying pens for your left-handed child to use. This helps to avoid smudging the words as the hand moves across the paper.
• If your child is learning on a computer with a mouse, invest in a left-handed mouse to allow him or her to progress at the appropriate rate in computer knowledge and training.

Another tip, specifically for right-handed parents of left-handed children, is to be a mirror for your son or daughter, especially when teaching shoe tying or how to operate a zipper. Sit across from your child and model the action for him or her. This is more effective than trying to teach while sitting next to your child, since you are using the opposite hand.

            Karen Johnson is a former high school English teacher turned stay-at-home mom. She lives in Olathe with her three children, ages 5, 3 and 1. Follow her adventures at 2stCenturySAHM.blogspot.com.