Handy tips for left-handers 

Did you know?

• Up until the 1970s, left-handed children were forced to use their right hand in mainstream schooling. 
• Pregnancy ultrasounds will often show lateralised behaviour from as early as 10 weeks’ gestation, as soon as independent movement of the arms is shown (Hepper PG, 2013)
• The natural inclination for a right-hander is to move clockwise, while a left-hander moves anticlockwise. They have an advantage here when loosening the lid of a jar, because they are using supination as they grip and move in an anticlockwise direction. However, this poses challenges for left-handers where items such as tin openers and other household tools are designed based on the inclination to move in a clockwise direction. 

Handwriting tips 

1. Page orientation 

For left-handed writers, the page should be rotated clockwise by 20-30 degrees. The exact angle will vary according to the preference of the writer. The most important factor is that the writer’s arm is positioned perpendicular to the bottom of the page, with the wrist straight and hand below the writing line. This allows for a clear view of what is being written and prevents smudging. 

• Posture

Left-handed writers should be seated on the left-hand side of the desk or at the end of a row. This prevents them from bumping elbows with a right-handed learner. Avoid placing them next to a wall on their left to allow sufficient space for movement of their left-hand side.  The use of an incline board can be helpful as it allows the left-handed writer to see above their hand and is helpful in preventing the use of a hooked grasp.

• Pencil or pen grip 

We want to avoid the ‘hooked’ grip. Some left-handed writers may adopt this grip when learning to write, however, it is not sustainable and will cause pain and fatigue when the demands of handwriting increase.  To prevent this, support learners in holding their writing tool 2-3cm from the point, allowing them to see past their fingers. An elastic band, stickers or writing grip can be used as a visual cue on where to hold their writing tool.

Provide pens that don’t smudge, softer leaded pencils and quick-dry kokis.

• Letter formation 

Left-handed writers need to push their writing tool across the page, rather than a right-handed writer who uses a smoother pulling action. When teaching letter formation, highlight that left-handed learners can do their ‘crossbars’ from right to left as a pulling rather than pushing action. Crossbars are found in the following letters (t, f, A, E, F, H, T, X) 

When teaching letter formation, allow left-handed writers to practise on a larger scale, where they are able to move their arm freely, while keeping their wrist straight, visually monitor their letter formations and not bother with smudging their writing. This can be done on a vertical chalkboard or whiteboard, or with their finger or a stick in the sand on the playground.

Leaving a finger space can be tricky for left-handed learners, because they need to cross their left arm over the right arm in order to do so. Provide the left-handed writer with an ice cream stick spacer rather, which is less bulky than using their fingers. Alternatively, some left-handed writers have found that using their right-hand pinky finger is more efficient than using their index finger.

• Work layout 

Visual cues on a page are often placed in the left-hand margin. This poses a challenge for left-handed learners as their hand covers the margin. Rather place visual cues such as letters or the ‘head-tummy-tail’ diagram on the right-hand side of the page. Visual cues may also be placed at the top of the page. 

When doing a ‘complete-the-picture’ activity, place the example on the right-hand side of the page for left-handed learners. 

• Cutting

A left-hander needs to use a pair of scissors that has the top blade on the left side of the pivot, otherwise you can’t see where you are cutting.  Be cautious of scissors that are marketed to be used by left-handed or right-handed learners, as unless the top blade is on the left, they are not appropriate for left-handed cutting. 

Support left-handed learners to cut in a clockwise direction; this allows them to see the line that they are cutting and allows their right hand to hold on to the piece of paper that they are cutting out and not the scraps that they are cutting off. Sit opposite rather than next to a left-handed learner when demonstrating cutting (if you are right-hand dominant).

• Computers

You can switch the primary and secondary mouse button functions in your computer settings, so that the primary click button is the right button rather than the left, allowing a left-hand user to use a right-hand mouse. However, the ergonomic design of the mouse may be suited to a right-hand user and not feel comfortable in their hand. Ensure the computer mouse is comfortable for the left-hand user and that the primary click button is on the right. There are also left-handed keyboards available, designed with the numeric keypad and control keys on the left. Again, the choice is up to the left-handed person and what they feel most comfortable and efficient with. They are unable to make this empowered choice though, if not given the opportunity to try and practise with equipment that is specifically designed for left-hand users. Some right-hand dominant people prefer using a left-hand mouse to prevent overuse injuries in their dominant hand and to free up their dominant right hand to use the numeric keypad. 

• Social Factors

• Left-handed people will generally provide their right hand for a handshake, for the sake of ease to the right-handed person. They have to consciously provide their right hand rather than their left.
• Hugs may also be uncomfortable for lefties – ever had a hug from a little one in your class or therapy room and bumped heads? Lefties will naturally tilt their head to the right which could lead to a collision with a right-handed person tilting their head to the left. Keep this in mind when greeting or comforting the lefties in your life. 
• In the classroom environment, teach your left-handed learners to notice the difference between right and left-handed scissors so that they can advocate for themselves when needed. They may have left-handed scissors on their desk in class, but does the art room have left-handed scissors? Do you as a therapist have left-handed scissors in your therapy room? 
• When demonstrating something to a left-handed learner, sit opposite them to provide a mirror image rather than sitting next to them. Consider this during activities such as demonstrating how to tie their shoelaces.

Considerations for the EASI 

• V:PrD: sit on the right-hand side of the left-handed child, not the left-hand side; this allows you to observe their drawings as you would by sitting on the left-hand side of your right-handed child and allows the child freedom of movement of their left-hand side.
• Pr:P & Pr:S : No penalty for non-mirrored responses, 
• Prop:F : Preferred hand followed by non-preferred hand 
• P:JP: Only test preferred hand and foot. The manual states to determine child’s preferred foot prior to this test; if not known from previous tests, ask child to kick over the rice bottle before these items.
• TP:S: Part 1 test items presented to preferred hand.

 Part 2: test items presented to child’s LEFT hand and response items presented to child’s RIGHT hand (regardless of hand preference)

Reference:

Hepper PG (2013). The development origins of laterality: fetal handedness. Developmental Psychobiology, 55(6): 575-561.