Your Left-Handed Child: Making Things Easy for Left-Handers in a Right-Handed World

by Lauren Milsom

Around one in ten people are left-handed, but being a left-handed child in a right-handed world isn't easy. Nothing seems to fit and parents don't always know how to give guidance on even everyday activities when they're approached from the "wrong" position. Leading expert in left-handedness Lauren Milsom describes simple but effective strategies to help kids, from the very young to teenagers, overcome the many hurdles they encounter at school and home. Find out how to guide young children as they master handwriting, getting dressed, and using cutlery, and older ones in more complex tasks like handling woodworking tools and playing guitar or sports. With her invaluable advice, left-handed children will be confident and capable, and left-handedness need never become an issue.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I kept thinking about Ned Flanders and his left handed store as I read this book. It did tell me some great hints to help Eliza as she struggles to write, cut, and life in a right handed world. I know now that there is no such thing as universal scissors (sorry about that, kid!) And I know how she needs to angle her paper and line up her arm. There were some phrases that went over my head, as it was in British English.

[DD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this and now I'm always thinking about my left handed child and how the world is different for him and what I can do to make it easier.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting information about what struggles left-handed children have and why some tools are hard to handle if you are left-handed. Strategies for dealing with kitchen tools, and machines that are more easily used by right-handers were explained. Some sports and other notable people who were born with a left-handed preference were included. Great non-fiction book to explain and show what left-handed people are finding difficult.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me insight into why I have found something very hard in my life. Handedness is not often talked about but it also includes a test for dominate eye which tells me that although I'm left-handed I'm right eyed which brings its own issues. Wish I had heard these things as a child rather then a fifty-something.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of useful information. I was aware of some of these issues already - such as left-handed scissors - because my mom is left-handed, but there's always something more you can learn. My 5-year-old is almost certainly left-handed, so I want to be ready to help him, especially with learning to write and use common tools. This book is short but to the point. All-in-all, a very handy resource.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information. Helpful for me, a right handed parent.

[Erica]

Great beginners manual on how to support left handed children.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for parents and teachers.

[Leena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview. My littlest is lefty (a trend, I learned). I'll take this book out of the library again on when she starts school.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very helpful if you have a left handed child.

[Rhonda Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand in-depth analysis of how the brain works to determine which hand is the dominant one and ways to encourage and assist the young left-hand dominant developing child.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book may have been helpful for my parents about 35 years ago. :) At this point in my life, though, there wasn't much new info for me. However, I never realized that serrated knives cut differently for lefties vs. righties so I'm curious to test that out.

I would like to mention something that wasn't covered in the book: desks. When I got my first apartment, my mom ordered some basic furniture for me. The desk had a couple of shelves underneath the right side and the cutout for the chair was on the left. This meant that, to sit comfortably with my legs under the desk, I had to sit all the way to the left. This left me no room to the left of the keyboard for writing (taking notes while studying, writing checks for bills, etc.). It was quite uncomfortable and I was so happy when I was eventually able to buy a new desk. That new one (which is still my current one) has the chair positioned in the middle. Also, back when I had a cubicle at work, I always appreciated having one with lots of desk space to my left.

Overall, I mainly see this book as being helpful for right-handed parents who have a left-handed child.

[(Jen) The Artist Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew there were such resources available for left-handers! I grew up as the only left-hander in my immediate family and while I don't think I struggled too much, reading this book was a revelation of, "Wow, that totally makes sense" or "When I think about it, that is so true." For example, "universal scissors" and Milsom's explanation of how scissors work. No wonder I cut things using scissors with my right hand --I unconsciously realized that these tools are typically designed for right-handed use and I adapted!

Full of practical advice, though you don't have to implement them all, I definitely recommend taking a look if you are a leftie or have a left-handed child. I also liked how they talked about how being a leftie can be an advantage in certain sports and other activities and that they highlighted or briefly mentioned some "famous" left-handers.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was really interesting to read about the adaptations left-handed people have to make in our right-handed world. It opened my eyes to simple things I can hopefully do to help Madison. From writing, to cutting paper, stirring mixing bowls, and even to using the computer, everything is a right-handed centered world! It was cool to read that some of the things I've observed Madison doing are because of her being left-handed. The most interesting thing I learned that was in modeling anything (writing, trying to tie a shoe, cutting, etc.) to sit across from her to make it a mirror image. Great book and resource tool!

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's becoming more apparent that Colin has chosen his left hand, so I thought I would read up to see what I can do to help him out at home.

Turns out-- there are a lot of simple ways that dumb Mommy just didn't think about-- helping him stir counter-clockwise, positioning his paper differently, zipping zippers, turning on lamps-- and remembering to move the mouse over for him at the computer. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my 5 year old twin daughters is left handed and writing is a struggle at the moment, I bought this book mainly to get some hints and ideas about how to help her with this since her teacher asked me to practice with her at home. As a very right handed person, there are many other things things that I hadn't previously considered ie. location of computer mouse, cutlery and even dressing that are affected by a person handedness. The book has certainly given me some food for thought.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have a left-handed child you must get this book! Broken into life categories, each chapter explains strategies to make the right-hand dominant world easier for the left-handed. Simple examples are given from toddler through school readiness, sports and music. Thinking about desk positioning or asking why is my child having difficulty with a task most seem capable of immediately picking up. This book addresses and provides easy ways to help the left-handed!

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it interesting. I read it because my almost 4 year old left-hander was struggling to cut paper. I had never stopped to think that everyday tasks could be more difficult for left-handers since everyday tools are made for right-handers. Like scissors, can-openers and knives and many other examples.

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd definitely recommend this for parents of a left-handed child. I wish my parents had been able to read this when I was a child. The information and specific suggestions offered by Milsom would have helped, especially in school.

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly quick and interesting read. It was interesting to realize the truth of the statements regarding how uncoordinated I, as a left-hander felt as a child trying to use tools that were meant for right-handed people.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very interesting and has some simple tips to make things easier as you parent a left-handed child in a right handed world.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I have a left-handed child and knew nothing about being left-handed!

[LL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed it quickly one evening - not a long read at all. But an excellent resource on things righty parents should look out for to help their leftie children.

[Maci · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was kind of like reading one big ad for left handed scissors, but there definitely was good information.

[Katrina V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some helpful info for raising a tiny left-hander. Will refer back to this when we hit school age.

[Amanda Trumpower]

I feel so validated in my struggles to cut straight slices of bread and open canned food.

[As'har · Rating 3 out of 5]

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