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Supporting Children Who are Left-Handed

April 19, 2026

The practice of forcing children to use their right hand and disciplining them for using their left hand has largely disappeared (thankfully!). However, we still live in a right-handed world, so young children who are developing a preference for their left hand need support that encourages rather than hinders them.

Facts about Left-Handedness

  • About 10% of the population is left-handed; this percentage hasn’t changed for many years.
  • By 18 months, children show a hand preference; by age 3, their hand preference is fairly well-established.
  • The negative attitude toward left-handedness in the past is reflected in language: a “left-handed compliment” is one that is only partly sincere; “coming out of left field” refers to something unexpected, off-kilter or odd; the French word for left, “gauche,” is often used to describe social
  • Several S. presidents have been left-handed (Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama).

Advantages to being left-handed

  • There’s a whole day devoted to being a left-hander: August 13!
  • Lefties have a greater chance of being a genius or having a high IQ.
  • Left-handed people can see more easily
  • Lefties are better able to do more than one thing at a time (to multi-task).
  • Being left-handed is an advantage in some sports, including baseball and tennis.
  • Some lefties have better

Tips for parents and teachers

  • Allow children to use the hand of their choice, including switching hands depending on the Don’t try to force them to become right-handed.
  • Try to avoid consciously or unconsciously encouraging the use of the right hand.
  • Provide left-handed equipment, such as scissors, computer mouse.
  • Teach the child to hold writing instruments correctly for left-handers.
  • Teach skills like tying shoes by doing it in front of a mirror so the child can see how it’s done.

Resources

Website for Left-handers www.lefthandersday.com and handedness.org

 Raising a Left-Handed Child in a Right-Handed World. Parents Magazine.

http://bit.ly/2kl98U2

On the Left Hand, There Are No Easy Answers by Perri Klass, M.D., New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/health/views/08klass.html

Contact

Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.

Additional Considerations

This project is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning.