01/10/2011:
"This is reminiscent of a child who speaks a foreign language as well as
English. The child has an advantage, and the teacher isn't aware.
'Southpaws' have an advantage. Run with it."
07/19/2010:
"My son is also left-handed, and I just discovered that the scissors I
bought him (labelled for left and right) are actually still wrong. True
left-hand scissors switch the blades around as well as molding the grips
to fit properly. They're also nearly impossible to find locally, so I'm
going to have to mail order a decent pair for him. If you buy the
ambidextrous kind (my term for them since I don't know if they're actually
called that) the left-handed user will still have to cut awkwardly to be
able to see the line he's following as he cuts."
04/12/2010:
"I am left handed, and I used to write mirror messages in high school for
fun. I was always in honors and won multiple scholarships to college.
There is nothing wrong with being left handed! My fine motor skills aren't
the best either, and it's never really held me back. Once you get out of
the early elementary years, you don't have to use scissors to often."
10/16/2007:
"1) My advice to educators and parents is to present information for them to reflect. If your child has same hand dominance as you sit side-by-side modeling activity. If you are opposite dominance sit across from the child as you model activities.
2) Foot and hand dominance are not always the same but often are---is the child using their right or left foot to kick -place a ballon or ball in front of them and see what they do.
3) Pushing a pencil is overrated--do many manipulative activities for fine motor development. Also, pick many things causing right and left hand to work together. Construction toys, crafts, clays and playdough...
4) Be sure the muscle group above the target task get lot of exercise. You can not have good fine muscle control if the upper arm control is weak.
5) Read about brain development-we are learning so much about how information is processed and controled."
09/11/2007:
"I have a son who is using his left hand at this time. I think that it is just fine. He is in kindergarten and he is also very creative. Parents should focus more on helping your children to be open minded & they will pretty much learn what works best for them. GO LEFTIES!"
06/18/2007:
"What's up with the left handed thing? You act as if it's an undesireable trait. I wouldn't use left handedness as a reason why a child is having difficulty cutting with scissors. Perhaps you need to focus on other areas. Being a left handed person in no way implies she has special needs.
As her mother you know best, speak to the teacher and keep an open line of communication with them. Don't project that she's alienated in some way. Encourage her and teach her to love herself and others. Her hair color sounds beautiful and also not another reason for alarm. People spend thousands trying to duplicate red hair.
By the way, I'm a successful red headed, left handed female. Thought you should know."
01/9/2007:
"My son is a mirror writer and since the teacher feels this is some sort of learning disability I have decided to help him learn to write in the accepted form, but encourage him to continue to write in mirror at home. I have read that only 1 in 6500 children can actually do this perfectly like my son. Da Vinci was a mirror writer and I doubt anyone would consider him learning disabled. My son can write with either hand, but he prefers to use his left at this time. Since he is a redhead I figure he is just being what I call 'red brained'. I have no doubt he will get past this and grow-up to be a highly intelligent individual thinker as long a the school system would stop trying to mold him into their idea of the perfect child/student. I think our world could use more free thinkers."
03/16/2006:
"I'm curious as to why this
parent wasn't asked whether
or not her daughter is using right- or left-handed scissors. A left-hander can learn to cut perfectly well with right-handed scissors (held in the left hand), but you have to 'hold it funny' to do it. Just thought I'd mention it..."
