My son is left handed. Besides scissors, what are some useful things I should get to make things easier for him in a RH world?
My son is left handed. Besides scissors, what are some useful things I should get to make things easier for him in a RH world?
Comments
Lefties need accommodation in very few things imo. I wouldn’t sweat scissors, or get a left handed computer mouse. Most things can be done equally well with the right hand.
A baseball glove and writing practice are really all that come to mind.
Left-handed spiral notebooks
Maybe a can opener? But honestly, left handed people are best off just developing adaptation skills because they won’t always have access to their devices
Until he gets into sports or shooting sports i don’t think there’s much you’d have to worry about. But if he shows interest in those id start saving up. Left handed firearms or bows tend to be more expensive
I am also left handed. Other than writing or drawing or scissors you just kinda learn to be ambidextrous for anything else. At least that’s what I did. Some stuff I do with my left hand because it’s easier, some I do with my right for the same reason. Hell figure it out.
Really just sports stuff. And just keep an eye on what comes up naturally.
Be mindful of where he’s sitting while eating though! If you are in tight sometimes a lefty will be poking elbows at a righty.
cash
Lefty here. That stuff is mostly a crutch. We live in right handed world. Other than sports equipment, it will be better for him to just learn to use the tools that will be available to him, which will be right handed. (In my opinion as a non parent)
Arabic as a primary language.
AK, he ll love the charging handle placement
I am left handed and found lefty scissors only as an adult. I can’t use them properly after using rh scissors all my life.
A defiant attitude towards a world made for a majority rh population.
Lefty’s Lefthanded Store and Amazon has a lefthanded section as well
Pens with dry-quick ink. There’s a jet stream pen that my son and husband love.
Some lefties like a leftie computer mouse, some prefer right-handed.
Watch out when you buy knives that they don’t have a right-handed grip. (Look for ambidextrous knives – they’ll have symmetrical handles/grips.)
There are some pencil grips that work better for lefties.
Nothing! I’m left handed. Your son will adapt to everything fairly easily, if you let him. The world isn’t full of specialized tools for left handed people. Better to let him learn to live in this right handed world.
But please provide him with left handed sport equipment.
When I became a homeowner I did remodel my kitchen to accommodate my left handedness. It was a splurge I don’t regret, but could have easily lived without.
Don’t let him use a chainsaw. Chainsaw use by left handed people causes a lot of accidents. Wait until they are like 11. /s Seriously though chainsaws hurt a lot of lefties.
Keep an eye out for things that are made special for left handed. You get some good suggestions just googling "left handed items". Even Amazon you can search left handed and see things they have left handed that you never thought of
If you were to accomodate this blessing (lefties are in their right mind) you would need a lot of left handed versions of things. Doors, door knobs, serrated knives, cameras, circular saws, drill presses, on and on. A left-handed mouse is actually kinda nice, but I used a right-handed mouse for decades without really recognizing the difference.
Scissors, spiral notebooks and sports stuff if he’s into that.
I’m a lefty. Nothing is really an issue. As mentioned, some sports stuff.
I also find decorative coffee mugs to be a pain, but I just don’t use the handle.
Black inked pens. Blue smears on us lefties in my experience.
Nothing? I’ve been left handed my whole life and can use any utensil just fine. Sucked at school writing with a pencil though cuz then your sidepalm drags across the paper and gets graphite smeared all over it.
I was the only lefty in my family and struggled until my mom got me a left handed notebook.
Picking the right spot for him to be seated at a restaurant booth, bench seating like at a lunch table. Just so elbows aren’t knocking. LH reel on a fishing rod. Baseball gloves.
Notebooks
Off topic, get him into basketball as soon as possible. Maybe he can get a scholarship to a small college. At the very least, he can be good at something, build confidence, be fit, and attract the ladies.
Seriously, being left-handed gives you a great advantage in basketball. Most left-handed people are ambidextrous to a high degree.
Left handed screwdriver
Lowkey, just teaching him to adapt will help the most. The world isn’t gonna cater to lefties, so making him ambidextrous in small ways (like using a mouse) will make life easier.
Besides sports stuff?
If he gets into photography, a lefty camera would make for steadier shots, if you can afford the time, effort and cost involved in finding one. Cell phone photography has made this so much less annoying for everyday use, tho.
Otherwise, as a leftie myself, I can say that the one thing you should invest the most in at home is soap to clean up pencil lead and ink off your hands after they do homework, time and understanding if their handwriting is a bit smudged at first, and lots of patience as he deals with the inevitable frustration with people who forget lefties exist when asking things like "raise your writing hand, that’s your right side" type things…
If you’re getting pens, when it comes to ink, I believe gel pens dry out on the paper a little faster, but you’ll probably have to try out a few different kinds until you find the ones that work best for him.
Also:
As someone who enjoys the occasional bit of arts and crafts, I’m actually more dexterous with regular scissors on my right hand than left-handed scissors on my left. I don’t know if that’s due to practice, different hand preferences for different tools, or what, but scissors have definitely been pretty low in the list of things I’ve found annoying to use as I grew up. So if lefty scissors are a difficult find in your area, don’t despair.
to be honest normal scizzors may be useful too, because 90% of the time when you need them, you probably need to borrow them and most people will have regular ones
and you can get used to regular scizzors in the left hand (source: using right handed scizzors in my left hand entire life and with correct technique it’s fine)
If he’s into basketball when he’s older, left-handed layups are harder for most people to defend against.
One of my best friends and my mother are both left handed, they are absolutely fine in the RH world. I wouldn’t worry about it too much! My buddy got himself a pistol that ejects the casings to the left instead of the right so he’s not eating brass when he shoots but besides that, he’s good! Realistically though the scissors are probably a good call. Idk how old your boy is but if he’s young and still developing dexterity you probably want any cutty implements to be in his good hand 😂
When I was growing up ink from pens did not dry very quickly and I always had it smeared on the side of my hand. Get ink pens that dry quickly.
The best thing is to get him used to right handed stuff. The real world doesn’t always conform to left handedness. My sister is left handed. Everything is normal to her.
August 13 is the "International Lefthanders Day". Some places like restaurants or cafes offer discounts for left handed people on that day, could be worth marking it in your calendar.
LH bread knife
44yo lefty here. He’ll adapt.
You don’t have to try to make it easier for him, just patiently help him.
How to pitch. Guaranteed scholarship.
I’m left handed and I hate those scissors tbh xd. He’s gonna adapt, it’s not a big deal.
The best object I’ve bought is the Pentel energel makkuro pen, fast dry ink, no smudge or stained hand
Avoid cheap pens and get ones with washable ink because as odd as it sounds, ballpoint pens are not ideal for lefties by default. A right hander pulls the ball as they write, a left hander pushes the ball. It is less smooth and the ink comes out unevenly. Then add to that that the hand moves over that fresh writing immediately, it’s very difficult to be neat and not be covered in ink all the time.
You don’t need to do anything. We adapt, some things we become ambidextrous at, so it can actually be really handy.
For smudging ink when writing, whiteboards, chalkboards etc. . . Nothing can really be done there unless you lift your hand off the surface which isn’t easy. But really it’s a small price to pay for the efficiency gains of being able to do a lot of things with either hand, or even multitasking with each hand going on a task at the same time.
Try The Left Handed Store.
Nothing. My mom and I are both left handed, we never really bothered with leftie items because they’re rare and largely inaccessible in most environments anyway.
It’s best that he learns to adapt to the world instead of expecting the other way around.
I love that some americans here read this post and think about guns, yeah sure buddy this will make his life easier each and every day
I love my left handed keyboard. The number pad is on the left side it makes things so much easier.
Nothing. We adapt.
Don’t assume he’s left handed in everything, and check again in other things. My first year of little league they assumed I was left handed in sports; I ran into one of my coaches a couple of years ago and introduced my wife to him and he told her “we thought he had had a brain injury”. I wasn’t good once I switched to right handed, but I was much improved.
Potato peeler
Tbh i would give him time to see how he adapts. Many of us lefties become strong with both hands if left to figure things out. I only need my left for hand writing and very fine detail motor movement stuff. My grandfather was born a lefty and ended up dangerously ambidextrous.
Chain saw, lol
A left handed mouse if they use a computer often.
That’s typically something you’d have for a long time and be able to bring it with them if they have a laptop.
Left spatula is a game changer. Sharpie ultra fine point retractable permanent markers are the best handwriting experience I’ve ever had.
Pens that don’t smudge.
Nothing. Forcing him to use right handed items will help him become ambidextrous. This is a situation that letting it be hard will make things easier in the long run.
Left hand key rings, because I’m right handed and struggle with way too many left handed ones in the wild.
I find that a lot of the left handed items are gimmicks. For example, left handed pens. The grip is shaped to fit a left hand but a normal pen is just fine? I’ve adapted to do most things with my right hand, like using scissors. I would say to not really worry about it, but like others have said once he gets into sports he might do some things "backwards" 🙂
Pens that dry quickly
If we could figure out a way I could send a few left handed pens.
No, realy I have left handed pens made with my company name on them to hand out.
As a left handed person, I have learned to adapt to the RH world. I’m actually ambidextrous because of this. My daughter is the same. We write with our left hand, but use RH scissors, knives, vacuum with the RH etc.
Make sure he has supportive parents even though he’s possessed by demons. The right wing will be coming after lefties soon!
I have terrible hand writing as a LH. Get him to learn hand writing properly as a LH person. I learnt with all the RH kids and it’s not the same technique
Become ambidextrous
Nothing. Your son will adapt and become better at everything than right handed people.
Source: I’m left handed.
I think he could use pretty much everything except those things that are specially designed for right handed. I bought a cup that was made for left handed but I didn’t notice at first cuz it didn’t state on the package and it was cute (a piggy shaped cup with the ears sticking out lol). It was so annoying for me as right handed cuz the ears kept poking my eyes lol
I’m a lefty but i have learned to adjust with some right handed things. Mostly I use my left hand for writing and when playing sports but other than that I have adapted in using my right, which I think poses some advantages of being some kind of ambidexterity
socks, a nice cozy comfy pair or socks are awesome no matter what world 🙂
Let me know if find a left handed measuring tape. Just for taking pictures it’s easier for righties I always wanted one
I’m a lefty but am basically ambidextrous because there didn’t used to be any alternative to RH versions of everything. My advice, let him adapt, it’s really useful being able to use both hands for stuff.
Get them an oven mitt for the left hand and duct tape it on so they have to do everything with the right.
I’m 42, left handed. Just here for the suggestions. I’ve learned to do some things right handed. As an apprentice mechanic I’ve had the tools ripped from my hands, because I was doing it wrong, as in it looked funny.
Nunchuks
Pencil sharpener
Boxing gloves. Obviously gloves are not handedly favored but left handed boxers have advantage.
Certain knives are made for lefties. They’re much easier to use. I have a can opener that works for both hands.
nothing. just let him figure out how to use what will be available to him naturally. being a lefty isn’t a handicap, and learning how to do a lot of things with both hands is an asset anyway.
I come from a left handed family (9 out of 11 cousins), and we had a lot of left handed things around. Nothing really worth it except.
Scissors indeed
Mouse: Make sure you have a straight mouse instead of a curved anatomical one
Pocket knife
A bike or a skateboard for left handed people
They make really nice left handed rakes at home depot
Teach him to use both hands.
I use both hands for almost everything, I can throw a baseball, I can write… I can punch.. I can use scissors in both hands
Left handed golf clubs. Left handed baseball mitt. All other things become insignificant.
Nobody has an extra left handed set of decent clubs until you get to expensive courses. And a left handed mitt because it’s cheap.
should your son decide to roleplay on live events, he will get massive advantages during duels. righties are used to fight against righties. and lefties are used to fight against righties. but a righties have to take more care and be more cautious against a leftie. statistically, lefties in a swordfight have higher winning chances.
Baseball Glove
I’m a lefty. The best thing is for him to learn to use regular scissors. I thought my parents were mean when I was a kid, but they were right. It’s best that i learn to adapt to the world… the world won’t adapt to me.
I’m a lefty. The fact I had to learn to do everything left handed while being taught from a right handed perspective has made me very good at 3d spatial realization in my head.
Don’t coddle him too much. It’s not a curse to be left handed.
I use right handed scissors in my right hand.
Honestly nothing. Left handed people are way more ambidextrous and benefit from having to adapt imo. I’m left handed and can do so much right handed and it’s an advantage
Have him practice a little bit with his off hand. Ambidexterity can be handy.
Note books/ exercise books that don’t have the spiral binding on the left. If you write left handed the spiral binding is literally a pain.
Pens, definitely pens! I mean, not "left-handed" pens, but pens that have ink that dries instantly. Writing left to right means that us lefties tend to drag our hand in fresh ink, making a mess on the page. Not all teachers are understanding. When I grew up, fountain pens were mandatory at school, I hated it.
Lefty here:
-Sharpie felt tip pens are my go to since they don’t smear
-I use a right handed computer mouse and prefer that with computer gaming
-Sports that require throwing I do lefty but I golf right handed
-I wouldn’t be too worried about much, we figure it out
Left handed here. Don’t do anything. Let him figure it out. Your son will develop tones of skills thanks to that, this will allow him the develop the brain in ways others won’t. Your son will be at advantage.
Make him sit on someone’s left in class
Teach him how to use the right handed stuff as finding left handed items are very hard to find. It’s a right handed world.
A left handed mug
I read somewhere that learning to use the non-dominant hand for some things increases intellectual capacity. Uses the other side of the brain. I tried it, and it is a cool way to diversify things. Still a lefty mostly. Smarter, I dunno. 😂
His life will be fine. It isn’t a handicap.
As a left handed writer…there isn’t. Other than scissors I’ve never felt handicapped or at a disadvantage doing things.
If he writes on paper at all, left handed spirals are nice. But most kids these days are using worksheets (copy paper) or computers.
Remember to always let him pick his spot at a table first when eating out. My brother would pick a corner so that he wasn’t fencing elbows with anyone else.
Practice awareness of where you sit at restaurants. His elbows will do battle if the seating arrangement isn’t carefully considered.
Teach him to shoot ambidextrous.
Mouse
Get him a note pad that folds on the top.
Learning Arabic
Always arrange for him to sit at the corner of the table.
If he ever shows an interest in playing guitar, have him try learning right handed. Often playing an instrument isn’t about your dominant hand but rather which way you learn the coordination initially. I know it’s not exactly what you’re asking but it’s value information as left handed guitars are harder to find and likely more expensive. Plus a lot of music education is based on being right handed
Just be mindful of where you put him to sit at a crowded table. Lefty’s should get to sit on the left corner so they’re not numbing elbows with a righty
Watch out for the lefty tricks. I told my mom I couldn’t learn to iron because it was right-handed. When I got married my wife put an end to that bs right away.
Seriously only sports stuff for the most part.
Scissors are the biggest thing. Lefties learn to adapt with most other things.
Chances are, nothing. The world is built for right-handed people. He’ll adjust, same as every other lefty, I say, as a lefty.
Smudge-free pens and pencils!
Im left handed and have been my whole life. Honestly its not that hard. You eventually learn how to do certain things. You have to learn to not put your hand down writing. You will have to ether bend all the way over to start or car or you have to learn how to use your right hand. Opening some doors is a little hard (weird i know) but honestly i wouldn’t want to learn with my right.
An ability to adapt.
If he ever gets into pc gaming: left handed mouse. My brother grew up having to use his right hand to move the mouse, that’s the reason he can’t really play 1st person shooters nowadays.
There used to be a total store intend for left handed people and kids. It was in Branson,MO but I bet you could find an abundance of useful things in Etsy or Amazon or just your Google search bar even. Good luck
Nothing. Us left-handers adapt very well. He’ll be fine.
Depends on how old he is. I’m left handed and I never had anything that I could buy. My kids are all left handed and my oldest is ambidextrous. So if he is young try teaching him to use his right hand also. My other 2 are primarily left handed so idk.
Left handed coffee mug.
Unless he’s homeschooled the desks at school will be a challenge. The notebook comment rings true. Also pocket knife drilled and tapped for left hand carry. I also love my Stag arms AR that’s full lefty- ejection port on the left side and I love it. Depends on the wind but when my benelli shotgun ejects shells sometimes I get gas coming right back into my face. I should be left handed but my teachers made me switch to righty when I was 5, now I’m ambidextrous. I’m still left eye dominant though and swinging a bat or golf club the way I was taught is whack.
Left hand notebooks