I noticed that my 4 yr old girl/boy twins are left-handed earlier this year. I wasn't happy.. and both of them turning out left-handed really surprised me!
From that time on I bought right-handed desks that would make it so hard for them to write with their left hand. I awarded them points for using their right hand to eat and write. I took off points if they used their left hand. It worked well.. because they want those points to be converted to toys, they listened to me and hardly used their left hand (at least when I am around).
My husband and I took a vacation and we had to leave our kids with my mom (who is a lefty). I don't know why my kids told their grandma (my mom) about what I have been doing to them. Upon our arrival, my mom scolded me for converting my kids (as she says it's bad for them). I don't think I did anything wrong. I converted them gently. After all I am their mom, don't I have the right to discipline them? I love my kids and want to do the best for them.
2006-11-16 13:49:40 · 40 answers · asked by Tuti 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Think of the long run, the kids are naturally left handed, by forcing them to use their right, you are taking away they're full potential. Some of the most famous artist such as Michaelangelo, were left handed.
There is nothing wrong with using your left hand, they were born that way for a reason. I've known many people including family who were left handed and have gone on to great success including athletics.
By forcing them to use the wrong hand, you make them question themselves, make them believe there is something wrong them that you need to correct. If they accidentally use their left hand, how will they feel, will they feel that they let you down, insecure about themselves?
As a mom you have the right to do what's best for them, but is this really best? Try using your off hand exclusively for a day and see how unnatural it feels. Do what you think is best, but let them focus on learning and being children, don't let them feel guilty for what they were meant to do. Best luck.
2006-11-16 14:20:14 · answer #1 · answered by Saphire 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are your children and you do have the right to discipline them. But what are you discipling them for? Something they have no control over. They did not decide when they were born that they would be left handed. Why would you want to change your children? Being left handed is not hurting them or putting them at any disadvantage. My oldest son is left handed and his hand writing is better than most of the right handed kids in his class. The last three years in a row he received awards for his handwriting. I and my husband are right handed, so when he began to write it made things slightly difficult but it wasn't anything that we couldn't handle. Obviously he turned out just fine. He is ambidextrous. And he became that way on his own. Not because I forced him to. Lighten up a little bit, just because they are left handed doesn't mean there is something wrong with them.
2006-11-16 21:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by ddbach1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Converted them gently? You manipulated them and obviously they are aware of it since they told your mother. Leave the kids be. There is nothing wrong with a child being left handed. Discipline them? Since when is being left handed a form of deviant behavior. Your children have done nothing wrong by being left handed, so there is no need for punishments or sanctions. Shame on you for thinking your children should be disciplined for engaging in normal behavior.
2006-11-16 17:29:17 · answer #3 · answered by i love my family =) 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry but what is wrong with being left handed?? What makes a right handed person better then a left handed person?? If you want the best for your children try letting them be who they are and not who you are.
2006-11-16 17:02:39 · answer #4 · answered by Danielle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who cares if they are left handed? You are DISCIPLINING them for what feature they are born with? That's mean! They shouldn't be disciplined for something thats out of their control! There is nothing wrong about being left handed, nor is it any different from the right other than the hand they use...holy! give them a break!
2006-11-16 15:53:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is what they feel comfortable doing. I would say your mom is right! If you want the best for them...just let them be when they choose how to write or eat etc. I have heard that it is bad too.....I am a lefty and my daughter is going to be right handed....I am not about to try to switch her over...that in my opinion is a little off the handle.
2006-11-16 16:38:19 · answer #6 · answered by buckeyefever7 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leave them alone. There is nothing wrong with being left handed! (I am a rightie!) There are great pencils, pens, scissors etc for lefties. My sister actually made her right handed son be left handed so he would be "diffrent" and her doctor had a fit. You are basically messing with the way their brain is wired, there brain wants them to be lefties
2006-11-16 15:27:03 · answer #7 · answered by Lori R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no doubt that you want the best for your children, but I don't understand how you see converting them from being lefties to righties is "disciplining" them. The days when children's left handed habits were "broken" are far behind us, thank God.
Let them be who they're supposed to be: left handed twins.
Out of the 8 chilldren my parents had, only 2 (me and my brother) were left handed. My parents left it that way. Neither one of them were lefties, but they grew up in the days when lefties were broken.
Please let them use the hand that feels comfortable to them
2006-11-16 13:56:24 · answer #8 · answered by Juanitamarie 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Being left handed is not an illness or bad behaivor. Left handed people are actually more creative because they think more with that side of the brain. Disciplining them for being left handed is pretty weird and uncalled for.
2006-11-16 23:16:24 · answer #9 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally I think it's wrong to force a child to use the non-dominant hand. I'm a lefty and there isn't anything wrong with being left handed. I'm not sure the reasoning behind forcing them to use their other hand. There have been studies that show that it causes permanent psychological damage to force children to use their non-dominant hands.
I hope you reconsider and let them use which ever hand they prefer.
2006-11-16 14:16:17 · answer #10 · answered by Melissa J 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋