I just spent the last hour with Quincy trying to practice writing some letters.
The girl is 100% ambidextrous.
While I have no problem with this gift, I am concerned about how long it takes her to write, and how this might affect her in school. Halfway through her name, she passes the pencil from left to right. She does the same thing on paper. If she is at the end of the line, she writes with her right hand, when she starts on the left, she uses her left. If the brown crayon is next to her right hand, she colors with her right, and the next second, she'll pick up a purple with her left (because it's right there) and continue on with her left.
Today, when we practiced the capital A, she drew the first diagonal with her left, and the second with her right, then finished the across line either with her right hand (creating the line from right to left) or switched back to using her left hand (creating the line from left to right).
It is fascinating and frustrating at the same time.
I really don't want to force her to choose and inhibit whatever natural abilities may develop from her multitasking brain and motor skills. But the girl is going to school in a month and it takes her so long to write anything that I'm afraid she is going to fall behind. I don't want her feel like she is failing or not equal to her peers because of the way she operates or get lost while she figures out which hand to use. She has a very artistic mind. She pays attention to how things fit together, how her books are bound, and notices textures of everything (mom, the ceiling in your room is different than mine. Does it feel different, too?" things like that), which makes me think she'd be more successful writing with her left hand all of the time, than with her right, if she had to choose.
Does she have to choose? She certainly can't continue on flipping back and forth mid-word or mid-letter (can you imagine what a nightmare learning cursive would be?), but does she have to pick a side for good and never use the other hand? I don't know. Does anyone know?
She switches back and forth between hands when eating and other tasks, but does seem to favor her left hand more often...but by a very small margin.
Any ambidextrous readers or parents of ambidextrous children out there have some tried and true wisdom to share?
Goodbye Butterflies
12 years ago
5 comments:
"Some models turn left at the end of the runway, some turn right."
Zoolander quotes make me happy.
Elsa went through this, too, but now she's solidly a leftie when writing. She figured out what was comfortable and didn't fall behind. She still switches when coloring or playing ball. I'm sure Quincy will do the same and possibly her teacher can assist figure out what works for her. I doubt she has to choose, but I bet she will soon.
Also, school's in a month?! What the crap is that about?
You know now that I think about it, maybe you should show her some cursive now. Maybe that will be a subtle way to get her to choose a side. Man, I say if you suggest a hand suggest Right. Being a lefty sucks.
I don't have ambidextrous children, so I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if she figures it out on her own in school - when she does have to write quickly, etc. Perhaps right now, during summer, she's more or less experimenting and learning. When school starts, and she has to be more efficient, she'll probably figure out what works best rather quickly.
I agree with Catania. The increase in amount of writing she'll do in school vs now will probably naturally solve the problem. She'll pick one hand for writing. I say don't worry about it, but the cursive idea is interesting. Just make sure her teacher is aware within the first few weeks of school.
i would let the teacher know but ask her not to make a fuss over it. Q will figure it out once she has to write a lot. she will want to get the work done and won't feel like switching hands.
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