Handwriting for the left-handed ds8

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  • June 13, 2012 at 4:44 pm
    bradstreet
    Member

    Does anyone have suggestions for improving the handwriting of my left-handed ds8? His grip is an issue. I encourage him to “pinch” lightly since he tends to let his thumb drift so that the thumb knuckle (not the thumb tip) is actually touching the pencil barrel. We have tried a left-handed Stabilo pencil. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

    June 13, 2012 at 6:42 pm
    LyndaF
    Participant

    I am also left handed and I also use the knuckle of my thumb to hold my pencil in place. My handwriting is fine and it has never been an issue for me. With practice, his handwriting will improve. I don’t know if this is his issue or not but it is painfull for me to write holding the pencil with the tip of my thumb. If you are worried that this is causing bad handwriting, relax.

    June 13, 2012 at 7:51 pm
    bradstreet
    Member

    Thanks, Lynda, for sharing your experience. My son tells me that he feels no pain whatsoever when he does grip lightly, and his handwriting is MUCH more legible when he does grip lightly. So, I guess I’ve always assumed that this is a key factor.

    Thanks for the encouragement that time and practice will lead to improvement. Always good to be reminded of that in any subject. 🙂

    June 13, 2012 at 8:56 pm
    LDIMom
    Participant

    I made my leftie son some spiral notebooks with the spiral on the RIGHT. This has made him so very happy!

    Even with perfect-bound books, he struggled with always seeming to fight that ridge (or spiral). Maybe you should look at his paper medium and see if there is anything you can do to make that more comfortable for him (if he is using a book of some sort to write in versus just a piece of paper).

    I also have a son with sensory issues and he does so much better in writing if I allow him to use a pen. He actually can’t stand the sound of the pencil lead. Maybe for your son he pushes harder b/c he enjoys the feel of the pressure? Could it be sensory seeking to a point? I don’t know, but those hand-held pressure balls work wonders here too! Or a ball of play-doh works great too!

    Just thoughts that came to my mind! Hope you can figure out a solution for him especially since you know his writing is so much neater when he has a different grip. Oh and what about those things you put on a pencil? The grips? They make all different kinds and we have a few of those around too. You can get them at big boxes or office supply places.

    June 18, 2012 at 11:18 pm
    Nan Jay Barchowsky
    Member

    Wonderful suggestions so far about his hold on the pen(cil). Be sure that his wrist is not twisted in a hook. to avoid this place the paper slightly to his left and tilted so the upper right corner is below the upper right corner. The degree of tilt is not important, but it is important that he can see the writing and that his hand can ove freely, pulling downstrokes toward his elbow.

    Left-handedness is not the issue that is often supposed. I have taught many left-handers and their writing is as good as any right-hander—some are better!

    June 18, 2012 at 11:30 pm
    simple home
    Member

    Agree with the above post. I have two lefties and it is important to keep the paper turned in such a way that they don’t struggle to see their writing. I used to have to remind, but now it is becoming a good habit.

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