Loving Lefties: How to Raise Your Left-Handed Child in a Right-Handed World

by Jane M. Healey

For a left-handed child in a right-friendly world, tasks that should come easily can seem confusing and frustrating. Parents of the more than 400,000 lefties born annually in the United States have had no resource that deals seriously with the learning difficulties their children face -- until now.
Loving Lefties is the first ever guide to address all the issues pertinent to the biology, the physiology, and the psychological and practical effects of being a left-handed child. An essential aid for parents, teachers, and professionals, it covers the history and mythology of the left-handed brain, and offers sound advice
• recognizing left-handedness in a child
• making your child's home and school lefty-friendly
• giving your child appropriate direction and encouragement
• identifying the advantages of being left-handed
• helping your child learn the skills his right-handed parents, instructors, and siblings consider basic.
Filled with resource lists, guidelines, quick tips, answers to frequently asked questions, case studies, and anecdotes, Loving Lefties is the essential guide for raising a happy, healthy southpaw.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2001

Reviews

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, this book just seemed silly to me. I checked it out after a discussion on Goodreads reminded me that my daughter is left-handed and that maybe I could use a refresher on the issues she faces. But this book made it seem as though this is some freaky weirdness that teachers won't know how to handle. Seriously? I think my teachers would think I was a lunatic if I asked to meet with them about my child's left-handedness. After all, they have them in every one of their classes. I think a simple note to really early teachers (e.g., pre-school, kindergarten, first grade) letting them know your child is left-handed and here are the areas that s/he finds challenging would be far more appropriate.

Perhaps it's because my daughter is truly a special needs child with a host of issues I need to discuss with her teachers, who barely have time as it is, that I find it a bit overreaching. Most of the stuff is common sense (don't force a child to pick up a crayon in one hand, hold it out for him/her to take.) The book switches back and forth from acting as though being left handed is a severe handicap to waxing poetic about how much better left handed people are (more creative, more adaptable, etc.) What was particularly odd was how the author readily dismisses any negative claim about being left handed as being unproven and anecdotal and therefore probably untrue whereas anything positive that it anecdotal is most likely correct and practically fact. I appreciate trying to be positive about it, but really, it was quite ridiculous.

That said, there are some interesting bits about things a lefty might find challenging (I don't think it ever occurred to me that any musical instrument other than stringed instruments like the guitar or cello would be challenging, but I can see how a piano would be a big problem). There are also a lot of lists of famous lefties which would, I'm sure, be of interest to those who are left-handed in particular.

One funny side note, I think, is that I left this book out in plain site where my 15 year old left handed daughter would see it and she didn't once even open the cover. I guess being left handed is not high one her self-identity list. (She loves to talk about herself and would be fascinated if there were a book about something about herself and her special needs she actually found interesting.)

All in all, this book is probably best for a new parent who has never thought about left-handedness before and needs to be reminded about things to watch for.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been raising a lefty for over 13 years. I did not need this book. I'm not sure any conscientious parent does. I don't even know what to do with this library castoff.

This was clearly written by a pediatric neuropsychologist. From one paragraph to the next, the author waffled between telling the reader that lefties are at a tremendous disadvantage and that being left handed is actually an advantage.

It went something like this. Pay close attention to your child. But not too close. They may have major problems. They may not have any problems at all. They'll be great at baseball. You have to adjust everything for them. But don't adjust too much. Talk to their teachers! They'll be great at baseball. Let them struggle. Step in so they don't have to struggle. Pay close attention. But don't worry. But be concerned. But don't be concerned. Also, they'll be great at baseball. Power tools are incredibly dangerous.

Did I mention they'll be great at baseball?

I don't know, maybe it's because I had other lefty family members as a child, but having read this, I think I've done just fine supporting my lefty child without this... whatever perspective this is, that I'm convinced comes from someone needing to justify her professional existence. I got my kid a pair of real left-handed scissors at 3 and her lousy cutting magically transformed. I bought a pasta server that isn't handed at all. Everything else... she's figured out. We haven't needed a neuropsych to navigate raising a lefty in a right handed world.

The only thing of value, other than I'm apparently not half-bad as a parent, that I took away from this book is my child's left-handed writing but right-handed-style figure skating is completely normal. Apparently right-handed kids are almost completely right handed in all activities. Left-handed kids are more likely to do some things left-handed and some things right-handed/footed. While she didn't mention a word about skating (because baseball), I'm now confident that my kid's coaches having her spin one way and then the other and seeing which worked best was the correct way to handle it. Their struggle to figure it out was completely normal, since her body very well may have been equally good spinning both directions.

And I'm not putting her in baseball.

[Tsurayya Hidayat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born as a 100 percent lefties, means i do almost everything with my left hand, i felt so relieved when i finally found this book. There is one chapter specifically explain the preparation for lefty kid before they starting school. Starts from how parents must communicate with the teachers, until the preparation for lefty school equipments.

[Cindy Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book made me aware of a few inconveniences. Honestly, it was mostly fluff. But, I came out of it a tiny bit more conscientious.

[Nancee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't very long and it could have been a lot shorter. I have a left-handed child and I am right-handed. I was looking for some ideas on challenges she may face and how to help her out. The biggest challenge was writing and it suggested a few others I hadn't thought of: mouse/computer, kitchen utensils, tools, musical instruments. There wasn't a whole lot more to that book that was helpful. It basically said to either find left-handed tools or left-handed people are better at adapting. The main focus of the book seemed to be on people who had other developmental challenges that also happened to be left handed. She also repeated herself ALOT!! Was hoping for more applicable info. I guess I will just do an Internet search next time.

[Mire Ae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting facts in the beginning of the book were what drew me in. The book did give me some insight on left-handness but wasn't interested in reading further in close details about the various studies.
My brother was left-handed but due to the type of cultural myths as mentioned in the book he was taught to use his right hand. I found that sad, even now and I wonder if his lack to crafting skills and writing skills are due to the forced change.

Just a good short read and the author does mention in the beginning of the book that she does not believe that this is a necessity for any parents- purely her insight of some notable things in her life, work and studies.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I devoured this book. I think because I've always had a fascination with left-handedness not to mention that I now have two children who are lefties. Parts of the book seemed like "filler" to me, but I came away with some new knowledge and perspective on left-handedness. I wish it would have discussed more on teaching your left-handed child how to write. The part that was the most interesting to me is when it discussed why people are left handed. Apparently, there is only a gene for right handedness and not a gene for left handedness.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gives me great ideas of where to start with my sons teacher!

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insight to my two left handers. It brought up things that I never even thought about before. I'm glad I took the time to read it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides fascinating statistics and anecdotes about lefties. Yet another book published in need of a good edit, but I'm still glad I read it. I'm excited to be a mom of a lefty!