• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Jen
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
  • Blog Menu
    • Homeschool
    • Lifestyle
    • Family
    • Blogging
  • Resources
    • FREE Subscriber Resources
    • My Favorite Resources
    • Start a Blog
  • Shop
    • My Store
    • Phonics Curriculum
    • Homeschool Planner
    • My Favorite Resources
    • Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Jen Merckling

life.unimaginable

March 4, 2018

Tips for Teaching Your Left Handed Child Handwriting

(This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)
1.5Kshares
  • Facebook 81

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

All the boys in my house are lefties…My hubby, my teenage son, and my kindergarten son.  It makes for some elbow bumping at the dinner table–but that’s nothing compared to the struggle with handwriting!  Teaching my left-handed children fine-motor skills (specifically handwriting) has been one of the more challenging tasks for this right-handed momma!  I’ve learned a few tricks along the way, and I’m excited to share some tips for teaching your left handed child handwriting!

1. Slightly Angle the Paper

So for us righties…we typically write with our paper angled so that the top-right corner is slightly up.  For our left-handed kids, we need to do the opposite!  Set them up for writing with the top-left corner of the paper slightly angled upwards.

2. Keep an Example on the Right-Side

I began to notice that most worksheets or papers have the example on the left side of the page–which makes sense, because we read and write left to right!  However, this is a problem for left handed children because their arm is covering up the example when they are writing!  So I began showing my son where to start–the left side, but I also put an example on the other end of the line–on the right side.  Now he can easily see it while he’s writing!  I also try to remember to set any copywork or separate examples he is looking at, slightly off to the right side.

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

3. Proper Pencil Grip

Proper pencil grip has been the biggest challenge of teaching my left handed kids handwriting.  All of my girls (all right handed) came out of the womb instinctively knowing how to hold pencils, crayons, markers, etc…There was no teaching involved.  But my left handed boys–totally another story!

They both became very frustrated when I tried to help them hold their pencils properly…And even if they managed to get their fingers into place, they were using their entire arm to write!

My oldest son (now 18)–has very good handwriting.  But.  He holds his pencils in completely wonky ways.  I have no idea how he does it.  He’s a straight A student with super neat writing, so obviously he’s figured out how to adapt without ever figuring out how to hold a pencil properly.  But I think it always made things just a bit harder.  I remember it taking him so. long. to write things out!  And I blame a lot of it on never getting his pencil grip quite right.  We even went to a therapist at one point–who only offered that he needed to do hand strengthening exercises.

While I’m sure squeezing little balls and smushing play-doh is helpful for gaining hand and finger strength–it really never did the trick for helping him place his fingers properly on the pencil.  Kids develop habits, and there was just no fixing his bad pencil grip habit.I was afraid we were headed down that same road with my kindergarten son–but then I found an amazing pencil grip training tool called Write-It-Left!  It’s shaped like a fish–so immediately my son was intrigued and ready to give it a try!  I did have to help him get his fingers placed on the grip the first few times–but WOW–he began writing better almost instantly.

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

 

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

He practiced drawing and writing with it for at least an hour the first time he tried it!  The Write-It-Left pencil grip definitely exceeded my expectations.  In addition, I was happy to see he was finally getting the idea of keeping his arm in place while only moving his fingers!  I am so so excited about this product!

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

Ideas for Curriculum and Formal Practice

I’m a big fan of Handwriting Without Tears!  I think it is a great curriculum for teaching and practicing correct letter formation.

Once we move beyond letter formation, I’ve always had my kids do copywork to practice handwriting.  I love copywork because it helps kids develop several skills at once.  They are learning spelling, grammar, and often memorizing bible verses, facts, or great quotes–all while also practicing penmanship!

(I have several sets of seasonal copywork available in my free resource library for subscribers!  You can subscribe to my newsletter on this page–or grab some ABC Handwriting Pages to subscribe!)

Final Thoughts About Teaching Handwriting

I’m a big believer in gentle handwriting practice!  It should not be done to excess, completely wearing kids out and causing them to dislike writing.  If you see your child becoming frustrated–don’t feel like you have to finish an entire handwriting worksheet.  Assign what is appropriate for your kiddo!

I’ve also found that kids take a little more ownership when you ask them to do some self-assessment.  So for handwriting practice, I always ask my son to pick the letter (or number) he thinks looks best and circle it.  Then I tell him which one is my favorite.  He begins looking for his best work almost right away…”Mom, I think this is going to be the best one!”

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

And my final encouragement is this–you are doing great!  Your child is getting a lot more individualized help with handwriting than they would receive in a typical classroom.  There just is not time to get laser focused on individual handwriting problems in a classroom setting.  (I know because I used to teach 2nd grade!)  Just be patient–they will get it!

With Love,

Jen xo

 

 

Teaching your left handed child handwriting can be challenging--especially if you are right handed! I have two left handed sons--here's what I've learned to help teach them handwriting!

Related Posts

Filed Under: Early Learning, Elementary, Homeschooling Tagged With: Affiliate, Handwriting, Homeschool, How to Homeschool, Left Handed Kids

Primary Sidebar

Hello! Welcome--I'm Jen! I've got 6 kiddos, twins, toddlers, teens--lots of laundry and always dirty dishes! I've been Jason's wife for 20 years, a mommy for 18 years, and a homeschooler for 14 years...I'd love to be friends. ♡

Read my story→

SEARCH MY WEBSITE!

CONNECT WITH ME!

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM!

❤️Love of Learning, Leadership, Creativity, Cr ❤️Love of Learning, Leadership, Creativity, Critical Thinking… 
Just some attributes at the heart of why many of us homeschool! 

We’re digging deep into all that this coming week over at the Life Skills Leadership Summit! I’d love for you to join us!! {Grab your free pass in my bio!}🎉 

I’ll be talking about growing independent learners through all the seasons of homeschooling...💐☀️⛈🍁❄️ 

And the longer I homeschool (17 years now)--the more I am convinced that our kids create & experience meaningful learning through play! 🦄🤖🤴🦸‍♀️

❤️My 6 year old twins created this barn (and a set of paper dolls & horses)--complete with apples in a barrel, hay for the horses, and tiny carrots...I did nothing but provide the materials and the TIME to play!

It may not be Instagram or Pinterest “pretty”—but they were so engrossed and immersed in the process!!

 What project is taking over your dining room table?🐴🎨😉
Slow, cozy mornings...Just one thing I love about Slow, cozy mornings...Just one thing I love about homeschooling! The twins set out their toys to enjoy the fire & then disappeared...Now it’s very quiet—maybe too quiet... #whataretheyupto
Happy New Year!!🤩 Time to take down this tree Happy New Year!!🤩

Time to take down this tree & make some changes in 2021!🥳

{GIVEAWAY—Closed!! Winners have been notified —Congratulations to Sarah & Amy!}🎉❤️

But you still have time to join me for the Make Over Your Life Summit!🥰

We're covering all the things...in 8 individual tracks or grab the All-Access Pass:

❤️Marriage 
❤️Spiritual Life 
❤️Schedules 
❤️Home 
❤️Motherhood
❤️Homeschool 
❤️Health 
❤️Finances
Starts Monday--but Early Bird Registration (and best price) is NOW!
{Link in My Bio!!}
This sweet little book is meant to be read with ou This sweet little book is meant to be read with our little ones! They love joining in & “reading” the pictures! ❤️ 
It’s part of The Story of Christmas product in my shop—which also includes a game, narration, & coloring pages. 
 
Link in my bio!!❤️
All dressed up & nowhere to go!😂 #2020life All dressed up & nowhere to go!😂 #2020life
Happy Halloween from Harry, Hermione, & Professor Happy Halloween from Harry, Hermione, & Professor McGonagall!🎃🧙‍♀️

Copyright© 2021 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES