Left-Handed Scissoring

[e.j.]

I feel a little embarrassed having to ask this but....In all of my years of doing child care, this is the first time I've had a "lefty". He seems to be having some difficulty and I'm curious to see if there is a way to help him. I've done a quick google search and there is differing advice. Some suggest giving him special lefty scissors to use and others seem to suggest that he be taught to use his right hand to cut with scissors so he won't need to rely on the special lefty scissors. Anyone have any suggestions for me? I do have scissors that are supposed to be used by either righties or lefties but he's still struggling more so than the other kids. From what I've read, these scissors aren't aren't all that helpful for lefties because even though they can be held comfortably, the upper blades are on the wrong side of the scissors which makes it hard for the child to see the cutting line. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping a lefty learn to use scissors?

[daycare]

I feel a little embarrassed having to ask this but....In all of my years of doing child care, this is the first time I've had a "lefty". He seems to be having some difficulty and I'm curious to see if there is a way to help him. I've done a quick google search and there is differing advice. Some suggest giving him special lefty scissors to use and others seem to suggest that he be taught to use his right hand to cut with scissors so he won't need to rely on the special lefty scissors. Anyone have any suggestions for me? I do have scissors that are supposed to be used by either righties or lefties but he's still struggling more so than the other kids. From what I've read, these scissors aren't aren't all that helpful for lefties because even though they can be held comfortably, the upper blades are on the wrong side of the scissors which makes it hard for the child to see the cutting line. Does anyone have any suggestions for helping a lefty learn to use scissors?

have him hold the scissors upside down or you can actually buy some

[2 young 2 feel this old]

Give Lefties the necessary tools

My son is a "lefty.” After trying to get him to use the "dual handed" scissors (and having him get frustrated and give up because he could not see the line) I bought a pair of left-handed scissors, the improvement in his confidence and motor skills was amazing! And they do not cost that much especially right now when all of the school supplies are out.
I would not influence him to use his right hand for cutting because I would not want it to seem like he was "wrong" for being left-handed. I am sure you would not intend for him to feel that way but we experienced and worked through a little . . . embarrassment?, frustration?, something with my son, having his own pencil and space at the end of the table helped a lot.
Also, as you teach your DCB to write make sure he is keeping his wrist straight and encourage him to "pull back" where you would "push forward" (e.g.: crossing the A or the T). The curved wrist habit can make writing a painful process in school. I also let my son use a pen so he does not smear the pencil with his hand as he moves over what he has written.
I know you were asking only about cutting but I got excited to share all of the success I have learned helping him write. happyface

[JoseyJo]

My hubby and I are both lefties Get a pair of left handed scissors for him/her. Right handed scissors are pretty painful for lefties to use on a regular basis. IMHO

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm ambidextrous but both of my kids are right handed.

I agree with pp. get the lefty scissors. It will make a huge difference.

[e.j.]

I would not influence him to use his right hand for cutting because I would not want it to seem like he was "wrong" for being left-handed. I am sure you would not intend for him to feel that way but we experienced and worked through a little . . . embarrassment?, frustration?, something with my son, having his own pencil and space at the end of the table helped a lot.

I definitely don't want to make him feel "wrong" about being a lefty. I had read an article written by a lefty that suggested it was a good idea to teach lefties to use right hand scissors because they may not be able to get lefty scissors in school, at the office when they're adults, etc. The writer's logic made some sense to me but still didn't feel quite right so I'm glad I asked.
I'd like to do what I can to make this learning process as easy for him as possible.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I'll be shopping this weekend and will look for a pair of lefty scissors. Thank you all for responding!

[daycarediva]

My son is a "lefty.” After trying to get him to use the "dual handed" scissors (and having him get frustrated and give up because he could not see the line) I bought a pair of left-handed scissors, the improvement in his confidence and motor skills was amazing! And they do not cost that much especially right now when all of the school supplies are out.
I would not influence him to use his right hand for cutting because I would not want it to seem like he was "wrong" for being left-handed. I am sure you would not intend for him to feel that way but we experienced and worked through a little . . . embarrassment?, frustration?, something with my son, having his own pencil and space at the end of the table helped a lot.
Also, as you teach your DCB to write make sure he is keeping his wrist straight and encourage him to "pull back" where you would "push forward" (e.g.: crossing the A or the T). The curved wrist habit can make writing a painful process in school. I also let my son use a pen so he does not smear the pencil with his hand as he moves over what he has written.
I know you were asking only about cutting but I got excited to share all of the success I have learned helping him write. happyface

My son is lefty, get the scissors and look up the way left handed people form letters, it has helped my son tremendously!

[Heidi]

I definitely don't want to make him feel "wrong" about being a lefty. I had read an article written by a lefty that suggested it was a good idea to teach lefties to use right hand scissors because they may not be able to get lefty scissors in school, at the office when they're adults, etc. The writer's logic made some sense to me but still didn't feel quite right so I'm glad I asked.
I'd like to do what I can to make this learning process as easy for him as possible.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I'll be shopping this weekend and will look for a pair of lefty scissors. Thank you all for responding!

Since during most of school, the parents provider the scissors, they can always buy lefties. Should he ever work in a setting that requires regular cutting, I'm sure he can either ask the supply clerk to order lefties or buy some himself.

The writers logic makes no sense to me. It's a pair of scissors. 5 bucks, maybe?

[Heidi]

My son is lefty, get the scissors and look up the way left handed people form letters, it has helped my son tremendously!

You know, my son is a 12 year old leftie, and his handwriting is still awful AND tedious; it takes him forever to write anything. I should check into that. Thanks! If you have a link, please share.

[Scout]

I am lefty and I can not use normal scissors!!

[mamac]

Since during most of school, the parents provider the scissors, they can always buy lefties. Should he ever work in a setting that requires regular cutting, I'm sure he can either ask the supply clerk to order lefties or buy some himself.

The writers logic makes no sense to me. It's a pair of scissors. 5 bucks, maybe?

I don't know if the article only referred to lefties learning how to use their right hand for scissors or if it mentioned other things as well, but I can definitely agree with lefties "learning" how to use their right hand for certain things.

There are a lot of other right handed tasks that a lefty will encounter throughout their adult life that won't always be able to be accommodated by buying a left-handed version.

A few right-handed designs that a lefty may encounter that come to mind are:
zippers on clothing
buttons and positioning of computer mouse
knives (serrated on the "wrong" side)
circular saws (they do make a lefty version but good luck if you don't have access to one)
guitars
manual can openers


I'm sure there are probably a bunch of other things I don't know about as I'm a righty but these are some of the things my brother has mentioned.

If my kids were to have been born as lefties, I would have taught them how to use their right hands for certain things. Not because using their left hand was "wrong" but to make their lives easier in the future.

[itlw8]

next time someone tells you to make him cut with his right hand , hand them some scissors and ask them to cut a circle out with their left hand and make sure they stay on the line. Then just look at them and wait.

Later he may decide to try the right hand but he should not have to do so.

Meg

[coolconfidentme]

My hubby and I are both lefties Get a pair of left handed scissors for him/her. Right handed scissors are pretty painful for lefties to use on a regular basis. IMHO

Lefty here too... with a couple of lefty DCKs. Funny we were just talking today how we are quicker to adapt to things because the world is made for others. I also have a book about famous left handed people the SA lefties love.

[daycarediva]

You know, my son is a 12 year old leftie, and his handwriting is still awful AND tedious; it takes him forever to write anything. I should check into that. Thanks! If you have a link, please share.

http://www.iampeth.com/lefties_01.php

Is a good one, it's about the cross letters, mainly. My ds is now 5 and writes really well. He forms letters that need to be crossed backwards (so for A he starts on the right side, pulls it up and down toward his left hand and then crosses it right to left)

[daycarediva]

http://www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk/letter_formations.html

another diagram that shows examples.

My ds's prek teacher said as long as he learns to write them correctly, whichever way he writes them is fine.

He is going into K and his scissors are supposed to be community use. I bought him lefty scissors like the ones he uses here and at prek. I labeled them and will talk to his teacher, hopefully they are understanding.