Homeschooling Mamas, Teaching a Lefty to Write

It's just like teaching a right handed person. Us lefties are pretty smart and can figure out how to write without a video :) Just don't let him write with his arm/hand in an upside down hook. Have him write holding a pencil just like a right handed person. The paper will have to be turned to the right to keep the pencil from smearing. Other than that, he will do just fine on his own.

I have one of each, a righty and a lefty. I taught them to write the same way. There really is no difference. The only advise I can suggest is to be on his right side when you teach him. Otherwise, your right arm will keep bumping his left and vice versa.

My husband and I are both right-handed, and both of our boys are left-handed. The advice you've gotten here is spot-on. Our boys had no trouble learning how to write.

One thing that both of our boys did that concerned me for a bit (don't know if it's a left-handed thing, or if all kids go through it) was that for awhile they wrote their names backwards. For example, my oldest son's name is Mitch, and he would write "hctiM" on his papers. I wondered if he might be dyslexic, but he isn't. He was just starting on the opposite side of the paper. My youngest went through the same phase.

Have fun writing with your little guy!

ETA: I totally agree with Mommy B. about teaching kids. I don't homeschool, but I certainly teach my kids a bunch.

I'm right handed, husband is right handed. 3 of my daughters are right handed, and then we have a lefty... there is absolutely no difference in teaching lefties how to write, that we have found. It is completely the same, just a hand on the other side.

This question was asked a few months ago...

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/4884478926149320705

Also, just a simple question, no hostility, but aren't parents that AREN'T home schooling still supposed to teach? I would certainly hope that not only homeschooling parents know how to teach their children how to write... I've "taught" all of mine what they know before they enter kindergarten (reading, writing, math, science, history...etc), and I don't stop there...

I'm with Momma11 on this - don't let him write with a hook. I am a lefty, and I write normally - my lefty friends who DO hook all say they wish they had learned to write my way, too.

You can sit across from him, for him to watch you. Or, just trust that he'll get it. Heather E. had it right (ha!), too, when she mentioned not sitting so that you bump elbows. Pay attention to that at the dinner table, too.

And I agree with Mommy B. - since kids should write before they start kinder anyway, "homeschooling" is irrelevant. Besides, I want my kids to learn more than public school teaches, anyway. I think I saw it from one of the mommas here (I'm sorry I don't remember who - a lot of you ladies have fantastic things to say!), but I like to think that I DO homeschool - but I also send my daughter to a daily, 6-hour, state sponsored supplementary tutoring and socialization program (ie, elementary school).

Many years ago, the nuns taught us to write using the Palmer method which started with certain motions and shapes before calling them "letters" and then grouped certain letters that used similar motions together. For instance, cursive lowercase L and E are similar so we learned them together rather than going in alphabetical order.

Perhaps learning the motions and building that muscle memory would be helpful? Here's a link that looks promising: http://www.squidoo.com/Teaching-Cursive

BTW -- 2 of my brothers are lefties and both of them write beautifully (especially considering that guys typically don't write neatly at all!).

Have fun with this!

Yes, writing comes directly from drawing. When learning to write, kids first learn the pen strokes of the lines that make up the letters.

As a lefty, may I suggest that you teach your son to turn his paper? This will help him write without getting pencil smears all over his hand and paper. Turn it os that the paper is perpendicular to his body.