Parents may require taking some extra care while a raising a left-handed child in the right-handed world. However, with little patience it can be made easier. Take a quick look at some tips for raising a left-handed child.The foremost thing one needs to consider when dealing with a left-handed child is that they are perfectly normal. They are like any other kid. The only difference is their left hand does the work of the right hand. Their grip and function in the left hand is more developed than the left hand. This is merely a difference in the development of the
brain.
The brains lobes control all actions of the body. The brain is the primary seat of all neurons and is the command centre of the body. The children who are left handed are different in the sense that the left portion of their brain is more developed than the right. It is merely the reverse of how it is in right-handed people.
Left-handed people write, eat, and work with their left hand. Their right hand is functional but only as strong as a right-handed person’s left hand.
You can find out if your child is left-handed when they are capable of handling toys and food. Observe which hand they use the most. You will be able to determine it by when they are 7 to 8 months.
Here are some tips by which you should properly raise a left-handed child:
1. Appropriate Stationary
Lefties are perfectly capable of using the normal stationary when they are a little older. Yet it is advisable that you buy stationary suited for lefties when they are young. When lefties are young it is a little difficult for them to use scissors or markers that are designed for right-handed people. Even spoons and forks are differently designed. You can easily find cutlery or stationary that are designed for lefties. Buy those till your child learns to use the regular stuff.
2. Teaching Them to Write
This is a little challenging for right-handed parents. Your way of holding the pen and writing will be different from how your lefty child does it. It is however not difficult to teach them. Just imagine how it would be if you are to hold the pen or write with your left hand. Instruct them accordingly. Tilt the paper to the right side so that your child can write perfectly on the lined sheets. This trick can solve your kid’s handwriting issues and their colouring outside the lines.
But make sure that you do not force to change their writing hand from left to right. It can create a lot of confusion for them and at times completely ruin their handwriting. So, it is better not to force them.
3. Eating
Just like
writing, lefties face a little problem while
eating. First step is to buy left-hand friendly spoon and forks. Then tilt the plate slightly to the right so that they can easily lift food from the plate. Use your own left hand to teach them how to hold the cutlery and how to pick food and cut food using their left hand. You yourself need to eat with your left hand for a while to show them how exactly it is done. This can actually be fun.
4. Wearing Clothes and Shoes
It can be a little difficult for lefties to button their shirts and tie the lace of their shoes. Given how everything is designed for right-handed people, your child can face difficulties at first. To solve this problem, make your kid stand in front of a mirror. This will reverse their view. Standing in front of a mirror your kid will learn easily how to do these tasks.
5. Strengthen the Right Hand
The right hand of lefties is weaker than our left hands. It is advisable that you teach your kid to use their right hand as much as possible. Make them do things with their right hands like picking up things, trying to hold bags, etc.
Left-handed children are nothing different. A little
patience and careful bringing up on your part can solve most problems. If you follow these tips you can easily help them with most problems they will face growing up.
Is it bad to do things with left hand? It is alright to force children change their writing hand from left to right? How to raise a left-handed child? Discuss here.
