Question for left handers (or parents of)

[dejr_8]

Is it harder for left handers to print (or write) neatly?

My 11 year old has an issue with letter spacing, word spacing and letter proportionality. My wife thinks it is because he is left handed and that he doesn't see the last letter as he prints.

 

[Acklander]

I'm left handed as is one DS. The main problem I had with writing is that right after writing something my had drags over it, causing smearing (and I always have pencil smears on the side of my hand) Many left handed people over come this by doing the curved hand over the top type writing, where you're writing from above the line you're writing on. Both have their challenges, and yes - most left handed people I know (including myself) have messy handwriting.

 

[Mkrop]

Both DSs are left handed while my DH and I are right handed.

But started out with poor handwriting, DS12 definitely had the spacing issues.

We really worked at it and DS12 has beautiful handwriting.

DS7 is a work in progress.

But their hands do drag over everything they write, they had to stop wearing long sleeve shirts.

 

[golfgal]

If he learned the goofy hook hand writing then it is entirely possible. If he learned to write with his wrist straight it could just be laziness. Have him use a finger to space his words for a while and that should cure it pretty quickly.

 

[kacaju]

I am a lefty and when I write I hold the paper horizontally, the top of the paper is to my right and I am able to write without smearing what I write.

 

[smb6]

Three of my kids are lefties and they have struggled a little with their writing skills- mainly when little they struggled to form the proper pencil grasp. The two older ones still don't have the best handwriting, but they are doing fine generally speaking- my younger one is still learning..... My two righties both seem to have better handwriting and their writing skills came a little easier in their formative years.... I think it mainly stems from the fact that "our world" including pencil and paper techniques are designed for the right handed.... JMO. As they get older, they learn what alterations they need to make to suit them best....

 

[1stluvispooh]

If it is causing a problem at school you can always take him for private or see if you can get occupational therapy for his handwriting from school.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'm left handed and I don't do the funny crooked from the top type writing. I hold my pen the way right handers do. And I don't smear the paper because I lift my hand up as I move across the page. My handwriting is beautiful.

 

[Magpie]

I don't know... my son is a lefty, but he holds his pen like a right-handed person would and just tilts the paper into position (it tilts to the right, instead of the the left).

His writing is horrible, but that's because he has a learning disability and problems with motor control. Spacing is not an issue, because I gave up on printing after kindy and just taught him cursive. That way all the letters are joined up and none of them get lost.

Cursive also really helped with his LD, since it's hard for him to know which direction he's going or whether he's up or down. Cursive starts at the bottom line and always heads in one direction, to the right. It's easier not to get lost!

 

[sharbear]

I'm left handed and I think I have great hand writing. The family on the other hand tells me they can't read anything! I think that they just can't read left handed writing lol!

He may have some fine motor skill problems. It's hard to live in a right handed world.

 

[Gasface]

I don't neccessarily think it's a problem stemming from being left handed per say.

I'm left handed as is my oldest daughter. My handwriting is very nice when I want it to be, lol.

My daughters is somewhat sloppy but she's 9.

I did have the smudging problem when I was younger but have learned to work around it with hooking my hand a tad.

I know plenty of grown adults with horrendous handwriting that are right handed

My best advice is to practice, practice, practice. Like with any other school subject it takes extra attention to improve.

I wouldn't worry too much about it just put aside some time every day or other day for him to work on his penmanship.

 

[JVL1018]

I always thought so, as most left handers I knew had messy handwriting, but my BIL has absolutely beautiful handwriting and he's a lefty.

My son is left handed and is neater than my right handed daughter, he has very nice handwriting so far(he's 8)

Neither he nor my BIL do the hook thing with their hand.
My son makes his letters differently(different starting points, like he starts at the bottom of the o or the a instead of the top like they learn) but I always felt he should write however he's comfortable.

 

[of the seas]

I'm a lefty and my handwriting is horrible. If I write slowly, it is better.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Both DH and my father are lefties. DH's handwriting is nearly illegible, while my dad's is impeccable.

 

[disneyfans95]

I am a lefty and my writing is pretty neat. I do write with the page basically sideways though.

Oh and forget about using a whiteboard, lol just erases what I write as I go!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Both of my boys had/have poor handwriting when they were in primary (k-3). My oldest is 17 and is left handed and his handwriting has been nice for a while now. My youngest is seven and his is still pretty bad. He has ADHD, though, and often that goes along with it.

Oops, forgot to say: My oldest is left-handed and my youngest is right-handed. My husband is left-handed and his handwriting is pretty bad.

 

[AshleyW]

I am a lefty and when I write I hold the paper horizontally, the top of the paper is to my right and I am able to write without smearing what I write.

I do the same. I get funny looks sometimes, because I write basically sideways... but my print is incredibly neat and I never have any smudges.

 

[liamsaunt]

I am a leftie and I have excellent penmanship, both printing and cursive. I always got an A+ in that subject in school. I just wrote a line to watch how I write, and I do not hook my hand, or smudge the writing. I hold my pen with the ink pointed above my grip--so the side of my hand does travel flush to the page, but underneath what I am writing. Does that make sense?

 

[goofy's friends]

DD is a lefty with beautiful handwriting. She also uses a special lefty pencil that we bought her so she doesn't have the smearing problem.

 

[C.Ann]

I am a "lefty" - and while it's flattering, I get tired of people commenting on how neat and perfect my printing and cursive is.. Several years ago, I even landed a job (that I don't think I was particularly qualified for) based solely on my penmanship.. LOL..

People often say that my penmanship is so perfect, if they didn't know better they would think it was done by a computer.. But you know what that does for me? Just adds more pressure to make sure it's "always" that neat.. So - it can be a double-edged sword..

I don't "hook" my hand either.. I would say that I hold my pen (or pencil) and paper the exact same way a person who was right-handed does..

Of course I love to write - or print - so I'm sure that helps quite a bit..