So, you think they're left-handed? : Expert help for you and your pre-school child. (2 Revised edition)

Around thirteen per cent of children are said to be left-handed.

But which thirteen per cent? Pre-school children - as with older children and adults - can show dominance on one side or the other for different actions such as eating, throwing, kicking or drawing.

Many people remain 'ambi-dextrous' or 'cross-lateral'.

Pre-school children, though, can more frequently change apparent sidedness, so it's more difficult to be sure whether they are left- or right-handed.

This is important when they start any Early Years setting or Primary School: left-handers do need to be treated differently to right-handers in a number of ways.

For example, if two children - one writing or drawing with their left hand and the other with their right hand - are incorrectly positioned in their group, elbows can clash and irritation build up.

The solution to that problem is simple: change places!

But this requires consciousness of the left-hander's needs.

With handwriting, later on, specific guidance is much more important.

Absence of guidance can lead to significant difficulties for the left-hander. This book aims to help parents of pre-school children become more aware of sidedness through enjoyable and specific exercises with the child in the family setting.

It also provides the possibly left-handed child with 32 fun drawing and cutting activities designed especially for young left-handers.

By observing the child throughout, the parent can inform their new or future school teachers with greater certainty about their child's probable handedness.

This should help to avoid much of the difficulty which many young left-handers still face.