Writing: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Left-Handed Children

Left-handed people are often believed to have sloppy handwriting, and as children, they often write their words backwards. This doesn't have to be the case, however, if a left-handed child is properly taught how to write. Follow the tips for teachers and parents of left-handed children on how to properly teach them how to write.

Tip #1 for Parents and Teachers of Left-Handed Children: Use a pencil with harder lead.
Many left-handed people smear what they write as a result of dragging their hand through their writing. Teaching the child to use a harder leaded pencil, like a #3 rather than a #2, can help prevent the smearing.

Tip #2 for Parents and Teachers of Left-Handed Children: Make sure the child's arm and hand are in the proper position.
The child should have their left arm slanted towards their right side, 45 degrees away from their body. Their hand should rest on their pinky finger, slightly rolled back, allowing the thumb to push against the fingers, on the opposite side of the pencil, comfortably. There should be an 'O' shaped space between fingers and thumb, this allows free movement and the tips of the finger to touch the pencil.

Tip #3 for Parents and Teachers of Left-Handed Children: Teach the children to point the eraser end of the pencil towards their left shoulder, with their elbow against their body, and their wrist straight.
This will help prevent the child from writing hook-handed, which will encourage bad posture.

Tip #4 for Parents and Teachers of Left-Handed Children: Tilt paper to the right.
This will allow the child to see what they are writing better, which will help to discourage hook-handed writing, as well as encourage neat penmanship.