LETTER: Family Matters by Jude Dobson | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

My youngest child is also left-handed as am I.
As a "modified" left-hander, I have made it my mission to make sure that my daughter Iona is recognised and accommodated in her needs. As a parent I would recommend to you the book Your Left-handed Child which is on the Anything Lefthanded website from the United Kingdom.
I smiled about your daughter's hockey stick experience because I had a similar experience with the primary school here. I was categorically told (incorrectly) that it is not possible to obtain a lefthanded hockey stick. In fact left-handed hockey players are greatly valued as they confuse the right handers.
Regarding handwriting, I believe the recommended technique is to tilt the paper 30 degrees up to the left so that the wrist is aligned straight. I have found a Yoropen a really useful pen to write with (www.yoropen.co.uk). This pen is a unique design and they also make pencils for beginner writers.
Lefthandedness is, I think, still a mystery for many right-handed parents. I recently met a 12-year-old on a visit and I said to her mother "I notice that your daughter uses her left hand". The reply came back "Oh, it's not something we emphasise", which made me a little sad.
Thanks for an interesting article, and for being sensitive to the needs of your lefthanded daughter Jude.
Alex Balfour
Surfdale, Waiheke