My ds, who is 4, is left handed. He seems to really have a hard time holding a pencil and coloring. He just refuses to write. I think it is because it is difficult for him. I did get some pencil grips from his teacher yesterday. She said he is doing so well in her class, except for his writing, coloring, and cutting. He is very behind in these areas. I have noticed that he does seem behind in other fine motor skills. For example, he still has a hard time dressing himself sometimes. His teacher did say that she would like us to work on this, without pushing him too much. She feels he would have a hard time in Kindergarten because it involves a lot of coloring and cutting. She did give me some great ideas to help develop these areas. However, I am wondering if some of it has to do with him being a lefty. We don't have any in our family, so I don't have anyone to ask. If your child is a lefty, did they have trouble with holding a pencil and writing?? If so, what helped them overcome this?? Thank you for any help you can give me.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 10:40 am:

My 15yo is left-handed, but she never had any trouble writing or coloring. She had great handwriting by the time she got to kindergarten. The only trouble she had with writing, was writing backwards, because I think it was easier.

haraS instead of Sarah

That was a short-lived problem, though.

I already knew she was going to be left-handed when she was 3 months old and started reading for toys held in front of her. She always used her left hand!

Her dad, grandma on dad's side and grandparents on my side are all left-handed. I'm a rightie, as are my 2 sisters, despite having 2 left-handed parents!

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 11:19 am:

My DS is left handed and never had problems with writing or cutting, etc.. In fact, he was drawing detailed pics at a young age. I don't think being left handed necessarily has anything to do with your DS's difficulties. It's not uncommon for some preschoolers to need help in this area. I would encourage fun activities that reinforce fine motor skills - tracing, cutting, glueing, puzzles, manipulatives (Legos, etc.).

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 11:31 am:

My Ds is left handed and has horrible hand writting. But as for drawing and cutting he doesn't have any trouble. Is your ds using lefty scissors for cutting? He may need to angle his paper differently.

By Cat on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 01:22 pm:

Debbie, I'm not an expert, but it doesn't sound like it has anything to do with his being left handed. Robin does everything EXCEPT write with his left hand. He did everything left handed until he broke his left collar bone when he was 3. He's never had any problems cutting, writing or coloring and actually he's got incredible handwriting when he wants to. Randy is right handed and has always had trouble with handwriting, holding a pencil and cutting. He's getting a lot better now, but had a terrible time in K-2nd grades. It really sounds to me like a fine motor problem. There are lots of things you can do with him to help that. Two big ones I can think of right now are play-doh and stringing beads. We had pencil grips, too, and for Randy they helped a little, but it just took him time. I used to have a website that listed other things you could do to help, but that was probably three computers ago so I'll do some searching later and see what else I can find. Gotta run right now though (pick up kindergarteners). I'll try and find something this afternoon.

By Feona on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 01:36 pm:

DS is left handed. He is speech delayed. He is advanced in crayons and scizzors.

He gets some ot for attention really. He doesn't qualify for the ot otherwise.

By Debbie on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

Thanks everyone. It sounds like he is just behind on his fine motor skills. Cat, that would be great if you can find the website. His teacher did suggest a lot of things like stringing beads, play-doh, transfering things like beans, etc, from one bowl to another. We will just have to work with him. He is just now becoming interested in coloring, cutting, etc. He was always too "busy" for that type of thing. He is so advanced in his gross motor skills and that is the stuff he likes to do. I am not too concerned. He is a summer birthday and if he just isn't ready for K, then no big deal. I know it is a long way until next year and things could really change. We will just have to see how it goes.

Thanks for all your help.

By Cat on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 02:47 pm:

Fine Motor Activities

Developing Fine Motor Skills

Motor Skill Milestones

Okay, none of these are any that I had four or five years ago when I was looking for help with Randy, but they all seem to be pretty good. Trina, I think you recomended a site or two, actually! Maybe I should search the old archives. Good luck, Debbie. Remember, he's only 4. It'll come, but helping never hurts (unless it's stressing him out and your already very aware to not do that).

By Kaye on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 03:16 pm:

My youngest had fine motor issues, he could cut like crazy, but didn't hold things properly, etc. He is a wild active guy and he likes to color, but sitting still for long periods of time is not really his strong suit. He did qualify for OT, at age 4 he tested out at 14 months, not because he couldn't do things, but because he was slow (the test has time requirements). By the end of one year, he was 5, he tested out at 6 1/2 years. So my first thought, is keep in mind that professional help now can really make a difference quick and it is free to evaluate through the public school and if he qualifies the services are free too.

Okay, on to your question. Does left handedness make things slower. Yes it can. But only if the tools and such he is using are single handed, for example if he is using the wrong scissors, he won't have success and won't use them.

On developing fine motor skills boy style! My boys loved to play battleship, tiddly winks, hi ho cheerie oh. Also there are companies that make frogs that you push with your fingers and make them hop. Also fine motor skills are often linked to a weakend trunk strength. Does he sit up strait (more or less) when he works, or does he hunch over. If he hunches or in general has poor posture, then you also want to work on that. The first thing to do for that is make the places he sits fit him. He needs to be at the right heigth for the table, his feet need to be supported also. So you can sit him on phone books and then stack them up under his feet (or they make special chairs). It is important that his feet are supported and not just hanging there. Also make sure you spend time playing with him on his belly. We played cars, laid on on our bellies and propped yourself up with your elbows. Watching tv is good for this too I would not say go crazy with everything. But I woudl try to do at least one or two fine motor skills each day. Discovery toys makes a lot of educational type toys and most (if not all) consultants have a break down of which toys provide fine motor skill work.

By Tink on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 03:16 pm:

I just had a meeting with my ds's K teacher who said these were the exact issues we needed to work on when he tracks off. I think he has created a viscious cycle of not liking to color or write because it isn't easy for him and then not getting any better at it because he never wants to do it. The pencil grips have helped him so much with HOW to hold a pencil but it doesn't seem to be any help with the quality of his writing and coloring. I should have known you ladies would have some ideas.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 05:12 pm:

My dd is 5 and is left handed. She did have a hard time holding the pencil at first...but i think all kids do.

Once in a while she writes things backwards. From the right side of the page to the left side. Or she writes her name backwards, as Dawn said. My ds who is almost 4 has a hard time holding his pencil or crayon and he is right handed. I think it just depends on the child. My ds never wanted to write or color. But since he start preschool he has wanted to do a lot more drawing. I think he is just getting used to writing more.

I am ambidextrious (sp?) so i do pretty much everything with my right hand, but wright left handed and play baseball backwards. I hit righty and throw lefty!?

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 05:40 pm:

My lefty husband and lefty daughter don't have any trouble using a computer mouse with the right hand. Gary has a co-worker who has her mouse oriented to use with her left hand. I find it very awkward to use a mouse with my left hand! LOL!

Sarah was also drawing detailed pictures by the time she was in kindergarten. She loved to write stuff and color!

By Debbie on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 06:18 pm:

You know Dawn, my brother taught him to use the mouse on the computer. He didn't think about him being left handed, so he showed him with his right. He now uses the mouse with his right hand.

I just think, like you said Tink, that he doesn't like to color and write because it is a struggle for him. I am trying to do other things, like suggested, instead of trying to make him write. He does like to color more then he used too.

Kaye, I will definitely check with the public school about getting him tested. I just don't want school to be a struggle for him because he hates to write.

By Debbie on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 06:19 pm:

Also, thanks for the links Cat. I will check them out.

By Conni on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 06:22 pm:

I have 2 left handed boys. (10 yrs and 12 yrs) My oldest was very coordinated in large motor skills. He could not write well at all and didnt like to even try until 4th grade. But he has other issues, so I dont think this was just due to his being left handed. (btw-- he bats right handed)

My middle ds loved writing, drawing, coloring. So he spent alot of time doing this at an early age. My oldest ds just didnt enjoy it and didnt have the coordination in that area that middle ds had. And they are both lefties. So I guess my point is I dont think it had anything to do with them being left handed.

My baby (4.5 yrs) is 'right handed' and just this yr began to enjoy coloring, attempting to write, and drawing. Before preschool he wouldnt color for longer than half a second. lol!

They are all so different.

I dont have any suggestions really on how to help improve his fine motor skills (i know his teacher gave you some already!). Maybe fat crayons/pencils/markers would help? Brad use to enjoy spraying shaving cream on the table and drawing with his finger. He also liked to use play doh, he would draw with his finger in a baggy filled with sand. I also had a laminated name tag with his name on it-- he would trace over his name with a dry erase marker, wipe it off and start over.

My guess is your little guy will probably catch up by the end of the yr. Dont you think?? I hope he does anyway.

By Debbie on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 07:24 pm:

Well, I just looked at the sites that you posted Cat. Ds is at about a 2 yr. old level with his fine motor skills. My neighbor had her 4 yr. old twins in a speech program through the public school system last year. I am going to ask her who she called to get them tested and see if I can get him tested and possibly in OT.

Thank you for all your advice and suggestions.

By Imamommyx4 on Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 10:02 pm:

The 2 oldest ds were left handed and had a few issues over the years.
Youngest of the 4, dd is now almost 4 and doesn't like to write or color. She's smart as can be but just doesn't like to color. She switches back and forth between hands and just never seems to be comfortable with it in her hand. I've wondered if she's a lefty but just not sure yet.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 02:21 pm:

My son is left handed and he had a difficult time writing and coloring. He would complain that his hand hurt and it would cramp up. A specialist told us it is common for left handers to have trouble with fine motor skills. It was recommended that the have him squeeze a stress ball and play playstation both were to increase the strength in his hand. A few months later we saw a great deal of improvement. He is now 8 and while I will not say his handwriting is perfect he has control over his writing and no longer has his hand cramping.

By Beth on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 06:37 pm:

Debbie I live in Illinois also and your son could qualify for to through the school district. Honestly if his teacher thought that he was far enough behind in that area to hurt him in kindergarten. She should have suggested that imo. My son got pt and speech since he was 15 months old and it was all free in Illinois.

By Debbie on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 07:03 pm:

Beth, thank you for the information. His teacher did suggest that we may need to look at other options after we work with him awhile. We are suppose to met with her again after the holidays. I talked to my neighbor and got the information on who we are suppose to call to have him tested.

I did get him a few things to help develop his motor skills. I got him a leap frog phonics writing desk. The pencil grip fits on the pen, so it is helping him hold it correctly. He loves it and it shows him how to write each letter. We also got some string beads and a peg set, each for fine motor skills.

We are going to work with him the next few months and see if he improves. If he doesn't, then I will call to have him tested.