Left-Handed Scissors For Kids: What To Know Before Buying

Sarah Shakibaie

Buying left-handed scissors for your child might seem like an unnecessary purchase, but there are many benefits of buying correctly fitted scissors for your child, including increased accuracy, developed confidence, and skill in your child. Before buying school supplies for your child, see which scissors will be most appropriate for them.

This article covers the benefits of left-handed scissors, the difference between left and right-handed scissors, and also some top left-handed scissors in the market currently.

What age should I know if my child left or right-handed?

Are you wondering if your child is left or right-handed and what age they should decide by? Well, you might have to wait until they are at least three years old to find out. Even then, hand dominance may not be established until 6 or 7 years old!

In the beginning, babies use both their hands to reach out for mobiles, tug at your sparkly necklace or pull your face close to theirs. This is primarily because simple actions like grabbing or reaching or putting their adorable hands in their mouth for some finger sucking do not require control over smaller, specific muscles.

The dominance of their hands evolves with the development of the baby’s motor skills, prior to which both hands have similar movements. So, if you are not sure if your child will eventually use left-handed scissors or right, you might have to wait till they are older.

Having said that, some children might show signs of being left-handed when they reach the 18-month mark. They might reach out for toys or food, or hold their paint brushes with their left hand all the time. Although these might be a few indications, on a general note, you will have to wait till they completely establish their handedness around the age of six to know if you have a “leftie” in your house.

If your child is showing signs of lefhandedness, then they may need left-handed scissors. In this article, we talk about the difference between left and right-handed scissors, and the benefits of using the correct type of kids scissors for your child.

Does My Child Need Left-Handed Scissors?

According to Ludmila Girvan, a renowned psychologist, children display their preference for one hand quite early on, but tend to go back and forth between using the left or right hand between ages 3 – 5.

Nevertheless, once they establish a dominant hand, they need to develop fine motor skills like handwriting and using scissors to cut paper. This is where most left-handed children usually struggle. If the tools that kids use, like a scissor, make it difficult for them to perform a task, they will not attain accuracy and fluidity in their tasks.

Toni Caban, a kindergarten teacher in Montreal states, “Without the proper tools, children can get frustrated and will not demonstrate their true abilities.”

Let us take the instance of a left-handed child trying to use regular scissors. First, the cutting line is not clear due to the blades. Second, the cutting action of the hand usually pushes the blades apart, thus bending and eventually tearing the paper. Moreover, it might take children much longer to cut paper or other things as compared.

This might lead to frustration within them. If your child is left-handed, make sure that they use left-handed scissors and master their fine motor skills in due time.

Benefits of Using Left-Handed Scissors

Little kig hold big scissors and cut paper at home it is dangerous

It is highly advised that a left-handed child is provided and motivated to use special left-handed scissors.

Some commonly known benefits of using left-handed scissors are:

The design of a left-handed scissor reduces your child’s frustration while cutting a piece of paper or any other object.
It helps a left-handed child cut with higher precision and accuracy.
In the case of left-handed users, the blades are generally reversed. The reversed blades on the left help the child see the cutting line clearly.
The usual squeezing action of the hand forces the blades together so they cut through like a smooth guillotine as opposed to pushing them apart that bends the paper between blades.

Difference Between Left-Handed and Right-Handed Scissors

The difference between right and left-handed scissors has nothing to do with the shape or color of their handles. Distinct contours on the handles do not make a difference. Moreover, unlike what is suggested by marketers, it is impossible for the same scissors to be used by both left and right-handed persons.

The main difference between right- and left-handed scissors lies in the way the blades are coupled. When you open a standard pair of scissors, the blade that is on the right side usually goes up, while the one on the left side slides down.

It makes no difference if you turn over the scissors. When it is opened the right blade still remains on the top. The position of the blade remains the same even when you alter the shape or contour of the scissors’ handles. You can find scissors and see this for yourself right now. You can immediately identify if a pair of scissors is left or right-handed the minute you open them by their blade position.

Forcing a left-handed child to use regular scissors can frustrate them and make them feel incompetent in terms of their peers. They operate much slowly and are extremely inefficient in the long term.

You can easily purchase left-handed scissors from the shops. In fact, you can purchase it for both kids and adults. Encourage your child to use these scissors if they need them. Help them improve precision in their cutting and enjoy what they do. Use the right tool to help your child become happy and confident Ready Kids.