The tripod grip that is taught in school instructs children to hold the pencil with their index finger and thumb, resting it on the middle finger. Whilst this is relatively easy for right handed children, left handers can find it more difficult. Encouraging left handed children to use the tripod grip can help to prevent them hooking their hand when writing as it strengthens the wrist and aids dynamic finger movements. This will make it easier to control the pen as they get older. Why We Like It: Some kids may be reluctant to use pencil grips because they don’t want to look different from other kids. This cute style feels more like a reward instead. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Why We Like It: For kids who have trouble gripping slim pencils or pens, a big cushioned aid like this can be really helpful. It’s also terrific for those who have a habit of holding the utensil so hard their hand cramps.

It is built into our genetic makeup. You and your partner created your little left-hander. Even if you are both right-handed, a lefty can be born into the household. We have heard of one right-handed couple where 3 out of their 3 children are lefties! Why We Love It: This unique design is different from other grips on the market. Since the leads are replaceable, these pencils should last a very long time. Choice – ONE Write It Left Grip is supplied, in a colour of your choice. Please use the dropdown box. Group photos are for illustration only. Please note that colours are representative, and shades may vary slightly. Real Review: “Bought these for my son who has ADHD, ODD, dyslexia, and SPD. Before these weights we could barely read his writing, but now what a difference! To me it looks like they help him concentrate more on what he’s writing and he seems to take his time which means less mistakes.”

While the use of fountain pens in Australian schools is no longer mandatory, smudging and obscuring work is still a problem for the left-hander to overcome. Paper orientation, posture, grip and the formation of letters are the critical elements to good handwriting that will last a lifetime. All students should be strongly encouraged to hold their pen or pencil correctly to aid in fluent and legible writing but also to prevent early tiring and cramping during the examination essay marathons in high school. The practice of putting a "finger space" between words tangles a left-hander up in knots, so they should be taught to imagine that a capital "O" needs to fit between every word for correct and even spacing.

One problem that left handed writers have with gripping a pen is that they need to hold it high enough for them to see what they’re writing and to stop smudging. Another is gripping it too tightly which makes handwriting tense and increases cramp in the hand. Holding the pen about 3cm from the point with a relaxed grip should overcome these problems and enable left handed children to write more efficiently. Many parents have great difficulties knowing how to help their left-handed children, especially during their early developmental years. Schwellnus H, et al. (2013). Writing forces associated with four pencil grasp patterns in grade 4 children.DOI: Often, kids naturally outgrow gripping and handwriting issues. But, sometimes trouble with writing signals an underlying condition like ADHD or dyspraxia. If you’re concerned, you can find help here:

They are cutting with scissors and sometimes not just the piece of paper they were given! It takes a lot of co-ordination to operate a pair of scissors as well as hold the paper still. Look at which hand they use the scissors in. If it is the left hand, you'll need to get a proper pair of left-handed scissors. They're not too hard to find and they're no longer expensive. Schwellnus H, et al. (2012). Effect of pencil grasp on the speed and legibility of handwriting in children.DOI: Suitable for individuals of all abilities, but especially those with Autism, ADHD, developmental disabilities, dyspraxia, hypermobility, arthritis, and fine motor skills issues If you’re moving your child away from a primitive palmar grip and toward a mature grip, you could try using a short pencil, which isn’t conducive to a palmar grip.

Why We Like It: As kids learn correct grip, they can switch to an aid like this one. It reinforces the proper grip but offers a little more freedom. We usually don't see a child's handedness come out strongly until they are around 3 years of age. Before then, we can see glimpses of it in activities but don't be surprised if the preferred hand changes a few times - they're just exploring which is their better hand to use! Some babies will be observed to use their left hand to pull the dummy out of the mouth or to grab the bottle and these may turn out to be the ones who have a very dominant left hand later on. Left-Handedness Is Not A Handicap. Why We Like It: Fingers can help kids remember proper spacing… two fingers for larger writing, one for smaller. This set of translucent guides is easy to slide along as you write, keeping spacing consistent. Why We Like It: Spacing words properly is another key part of improving handwriting. A “spaceman” helps kids measure the proper amount of distance between each word. You get 30 in a set, so you should have enough for every student.

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A number of excellent books have been written in recent years to help parents and teachers of left-handed children who don't know how to help but want to learn. Books such as 'Loving Lefties' by Jane Healey, 'The Left-Handers Handbook' by Diane Paul and 'The Left-Handed Book' by Simon Langford are easy reading and give great insight into left-handedness. For those who really want to get into it, 'Right Hand, Left Hand' by Chris McManus is a detailed and fascinating read. Toddler Years (<3).