What Should I Know About My Left-Handed Child?

1. From Age 3: Scissors, Sharpeners and Triangular Pencils

Left-handed children should be equipped with suitable tools early on. The Left-Handed Store Erfurt recommends:

• Left-handed craft scissors: These are mirror-inverted compared to right-handed scissors and allow children to cut along lines with their left hand. Right-handed scissors used in the left hand often crush or tear the paper.
• Left-handed pencil sharpener: Enables the child to sharpen independently. Right-handed sharpeners can cause broken tips due to reverse turning.
• Triangular pencils: Help establish a correct grip (thumb, index finger, and middle finger) for better writing control.

2. From Age 5: Observe Pressure and Grip

Parents should observe how their child holds the pencil and how much pressure they apply. Excessive pressure often ruins felt-tip pens. In this case, use pressure-sensitive markers with retractable tips – the tip disappears under too much pressure and reappears with a gentle grip. A playful way to learn pressure control.

3. Before School: Train Writing Posture Playfully

Before starting school, teach correct posture using a left-handed desk mat. It shows the child how to:

• Rotate the paper properly to the right
• Position arm and hand
• Avoid smudging while writing

Use printable worksheets such as:

• Mazes
• Dot tests
• Color-by-number pages
• Mandalas

These can be completed with a stopwatch. Working quickly and precisely without crossing black lines builds confidence, fine motor skills, and good posture – all in a playful, stress-free way.

Important Note:

Don’t assume that teachers or caregivers are trained in left-handed writing posture. Parents and grandparents have the greatest influence before school and play a key role in helping their child build healthy, clean writing habits early on.