Handwriting for Left-Handed Children - Guest Post by Mark Stewart
(and adults!) - By Mark Stewart of Left 'n Write
Handwriting for Left-Handed Children
By Mark Stewart
Background
I am the father of a left-handed son, and my wife is an ex-teacher. My wife and I are both right-handed! It was looking for a left-handed pair of scissors for our son, when he was aged 4, which inspired us to start our business over 30 years ago!
Introduction
Handwriting is an essential skill for children, forming the foundation for effective communication and learning. For left-handed children, mastering handwriting can present unique challenges, owing to the way they naturally position their hand and write across the page. This article explores the common obstacles faced by left-handed children when learning to write and offers practical advice for parents and teachers to help them develop clear, comfortable, and confident handwriting.
Left-handers just do a mirror image of right-handers… don’t they? It’s all very simple and straightforward. Well NO! It really isn’t as simple as writing the opposite way to a right-hander.
Whilst there is no reason why a left-hander shouldn’t have good handwriting, that can only be achieved PROVIDED they are shown or achieve a good technique for themselves.
I suggest that you try writing yourself: do it slowly to appreciate the points below and see what it’s like from both the right and left-hander’s perspective.
Common Challenges
A right-handed person draws their hand to the right as they write, moving away from their writing as they do it. This means they can see what they have written as they write, won’t cover over what they have written, won’t have smudged or messy writing, can easily make a finger space before they start a new word and have no problem copying text to the left of them. So, plenty of benefits!
Now consider it from the left-handers’ perspective. The left-hander has none of the benefits which the right-hander automatically has. The left-hander starts at a natural disadvantage as their writing hand will start from behind the writing. Without suitable guidance to achieve a good technique, the left-hander will cover their writing which leads to the following issues:
Smudging and Messy Work: As the left hand moves across the page, it often trails behind the writing instrument, which can result in smudged ink or pencil marks.
Uncomfortable Hand Position: Left-handed children may adopt a ‘hooked’ hand position, bending their wrist to see what they are writing, which can cause fatigue and restrict movement.
Issues with copying text and finger-spacing can also exist, if writing with a poor technique
Support Strategies for Parents and Teachers
With thoughtful support and simple adjustments, left-handed children can flourish in their handwriting skills. Here are some strategies:
To see how your child is doing with their handwriting, both teachers and parents MUST look at not only what they have written but, probably as important, how they have written it.
Where to sit in class? Seating left-handed children on the left side of shared desks and ensuring they have enough elbow room. This will help prevent bumping and discomfort for BOTH right and left-handed children.
Pencil Grip: Teach a relaxed, dynamic tripod grip, holding the pencil about 2-3cm from the tip. This prevents the fingers from obscuring their view and gives better control.
Where to hold the writing implement in the hand- in the “v” between thumb and forefinger
Angle of wrist - straight line following line of arm
Angle of paper - edge of the paper needs to be parallel to the arm
Paper Placement: Secure the paper with the right hand to stop it from sliding and to support a stable writing surface.
Choose Suitable Writing Tools: Provide pencils/pens which encourage/reinforce a good grip. You can get specific left-handed pencils and pens where the grip is moulded into the barrel (by Stabilo). These are highly recommended!
Letter Formation: Certain letters, like the lower case “t” and the following ones in capital letters, “A, E, F, G, H, I, J, and T” have crossing strokes. The Writing Framework states, “Note that right-handers will find it easier to make crossing strokes from left to right, but the reverse is true for left-handers, and this should not be discouraged.”
Be Patient and Encouraging: Avoid forcing left-handed children to write with their right hand or criticising their style. Ensure you know how to model a good technique and offer reassurance, praise, and gentle guidance.
Before and after!
Before - The photograph, as below, shows a common pencil grip from left-handed child. If using a pen, she would smudge her writing, amongst the other attendant issues of finger spacing, copying, inflexibility in letter formation!
After - Changing this technique may take less than 20 minutes in some circumstances! The child now has a good dynamic tripod grip using the STABILO left-handed Easy Ergo pencil, no smudging even if using a pen, and she can see what she has written! Set up for the rest of her life!
The “Light Bulb” moment!
In early years, children often use pencil and, without appropriate input from a teacher/parent, end up with a poor grip. From their perspective, there doesn’t seem to be a valid reason to change. One option is to ask the child to write on a whiteboard, using an inky pen/felt tip. When they have finished their writing, point out the messy writing and hands. Hopefully, that will be the “light bulb” moment where they start to appreciate that they will need to change their technique so that they will be able to write without smudging their writing, getting messy hands and get the marks they deserve!
It wasn’t till our son was about 7 that he could both understand and put into practice what I had told him about changing his technique. However, encouraging good habits at an earlier age can minimise problems later and reduce/remove time and cost needed for remedial work.
Conclusion
Supporting left-handed children in handwriting is about understanding their challenges and providing practical, positive solutions. With patience, the correct tools, and thoughtful teaching, left-handed children can develop handwriting skills that set them up for lifelong success.
Enjoy this article? Check out this month’s guest interview with Mark HERE!
Contact details
For Resources, Training in person or by digital download, contact Mark Stewart at
Website: www.leftshoponline.co.uk
Email: info@leftshoponline.co.uk
Copyright Mark Stewart Left ‘n Write Ltd 2025
As a right handed person, I lost most of the use of my right hand at the age of nine in an accident. I had to learn to write with my left hand in an era and at a school with really strict handwriting rules. A backward slant and smudging my handwriting was not tolerated. I developed the strategy of placing the left hand side of the page at a horizontal angle and writing up the desk, maintaining the rightward slant of my writing and avoiding smudging my work. It was quite comfortable for me as well. This unorthodox writing style attracted a lot of attention but was tolerated. It persisted throughout my school years and I also wrote university and post-graduate exams this way .