Dear all friends,
Every child is unique. All children are given their own perfection, although sometimes some are not like the others. An example is a left-handed child. Left-handed children certainly have their own uniqueness. The hand that is more actively used is the left hand at the same time we generally use the right hand. Left-handed children use their left hand more for activities.
Since when do children become left-handed?
From the fact that in everyday life we encounter left-handed children since childhood, which is approximately when they are 2 or 3 years old. But there is also an even earlier when the age is still less than 2 years. In some cases there are children who are left-handed when they enter kindergarten age. Previously they used both hands well. This means that the right and left hands are equally active.
Knowing left-handed
Do we need to know if our child is left-handed or not? It's best if every parent knows that their child is right-handed or left-handed. This is important so that we can direct children if they are still early, it will be easy for us to direct them according to what we expect.
If you want to know if you were left-handed or not as a baby, you can try giving a toy and waiting for him to grab it.
For example, let's stretch out a car and see if it's handed out right or left. Or by rolling the ball towards him and seeing which hand will reach the ball first. In general, children will tend to use their dominant hand to reach for toys because they feel that hand is more agile and strong. If he is left-handed then reflexively he will pick up with his left hand.
Accompanying left-handed children
When we realize that our child is left-handed, of course there are feelings that encourage us to want to make him or her like other friends. We want our left-handed children to return to "normal", meaning to use their right hand.
However, we also don't need to panic too much and then do things that make our children worse off just because they are left-handed. We need to motivate children to be themselves.
As we all know, with age, children will hang out with many friends. He will do many activities on his own and relate to other children. It could be that when interacting with other children, they will be surprised and ask about our child's left-handed habits.
For parents, here are some tips for assisting left-handed children during their daily activities.
1. Don't force
Parents do not need to force children to change dominant hand. Coercion will actually make children stressed and hinder the learning process. We must understand that left-handedness is not a curse, especially by saying the devil's touch. This of course will make the child worse off. Every child is a gift and a gift to parents.
2. Children's self-confidence
As children grow older we need to provide an understanding that even though they are different from their friends, it does not mean they are bad. Many great people with left-handed achievements such as several American presidents (Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Harry S Truman), athletes such as Mesut Ozil, Maradona, Monica Seles, and others. By telling left-handed characters that can build children's confidence.
3. Adaptation
The child's age increases, the more children want to do things on their own. There is no need to limit the movements of children who are accustomed to using their left hand. Fathers and mothers can start to get their children used to doing activities with their left hand. If possible, things that are seen in real need to be trained using the right hand. Even though it's not perfect over time it will adjust.
4. Writing to left-handed children
Writing is one of the most challenging things for left-handed children. Moreover, the prefix in each notebook is designed for the right hand. Parents can put the paper at an angle, usually children who use their left hand are more comfortable writing from the middle of the paper.
If you are already in school, you can also ask your child to sit on the left side so they don't collide with right-handed friends when writing.
Here are some tips for dealing with left-handed children so that they can grow up to be independent individuals and believe that their condition is a blessing.
Thus my writing this time may be useful.
Best regard from Indonesia.
@rokhani