8 best left-handed stationery for kids to make life a little bit easier

With few resources out there to support left-handed children in their learning, these items are gamechangers

Remember, lefties push the nib of a pen or pencil across the page rather than pull it

(iStock/The Independent)

Helping children learn to write can be a challenge. But no matter how willing and able a left-handed child is, their experience will be harder in a world designed for right-handers.

Historically, left-handedness has reams of negative connotations. The English word “left” is derived from the Anglo Saxon word “lyft”, which meant weak, and we also say “two left feet” when we speak of someone being malcoordinated.

Until as late as the 1980s in western society, it was common to try to “stop” people from being left-handed by forcing children to use their right hands. Some people raised in Britain recall having their left hand tied behind their backs to prevent them from using it.

This stifling of a natural compulsion which caused frustration and lack of confidence in children at such formative ages has thankfully stopped. That said, today it is really important for left-handed children to be supported as much as possible to prevent them from feeling clumsy or less able than their right-handed counterparts who make up the status quo.

In terms of writing, left-handers have to push a pencil or pen which can lead to smudging and their hands will often curl around the top of a page as they write.

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How we tested

So, we put a range of pens, learning pads, and other stationery essentials to the test to see how far things have come. We wanted to find tools that would help with grip, flexibility and movement, as well as literature that would make learning as a left-hander much easier.

The best left-handed stationery kits for 2021 are:

• Best overall – Stabilo EASYergo mechanical pencil: £6.10, Shptron.com
• Best introduction book – ‘Left-handed writing skills – book one’, published by Robinswood Press: £7.71, Amazon.co.uk
• Best instructive pad – Kum leftie pad: £10.72, Amazon.co.uk
• Best geometry set – Maped left-handed geometry kit: £2.89, Giraffegifts.co.uk
• Best left-handed scissors – Westscott soft grip left handed scissors: £1.71, Amazon.co.uk
• Best fountain pen – Faber-Castell scribolino left-handed fountain pen: £10.16, Amazon.co.uk
• Best colouring pencils – Stabilo easycolors ergonomic left handed coloured pencils: £15, Shptron.com
• Best pencil sharpener – Kum lefty pencil sharpener: £12.73, Amazon.co.uk

Stabilo EASYergo mechanical pencil

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

If your child is anything like our five-year-old tester, they will be tickled pink by the mechanical aspect of this graphite pencil: the “magic lead” feels rather grown-up and exciting.

But, far from being a toy or fad, this is a really great staple for both right and left-handed kids – the pencils are designed in two versions to suit both. You can get thin lead at 1.4mm, which won’t require any sharpening or a chunkier 3.15mm which comes complete with a special sharpener.

Perfect for fledgling writers, this ergonomic design is approved by the National Handwriting Association and it’s easy to see why – we found it comfortable and intuitive to use.

Buy now £6.10, Stabilo-uk.com

‘Left hand writing skills – book one’, published by Robinswood Press

Best: Introduction book

Rating: 9/10

This is a great introduction to the world of left-handed writing and a brilliant handbook for parents and children alike. The focus in this book is to set the foundations for left-handers to write easily in a right-handed society. It takes readers through fundamentals like paper and hand positioning as well as grip before going on to the formation of letters and words.

There are some 28 worksheets for children to tackle, which might sound a bit heavy but they are actually pretty fun – we had no idea it was “work” as it involved stuff like neatly tracing the line between a buzzy bee and its corresponding flower. Adults do need to accompany the child using the book – this way they can troubleshoot any potential habits which might hamper future writing, such a poor hand position.

It’s full of so many hints and tips for parents of left-handers – like how asking left-handed children to use a finger space between words is not ideal because placing a finger down means they encounter a physical obstacle to work around in order to continue writing. There are other books in the range for left-handed children further on in their writing journeys.

Buy now £7.95, Amazon.co.uk

Kum leftie pad

Best: Instructive pad

Rating: 8/10

Finding a comfortable position from which to write is essential for left-handed learners. This pad is a brilliant way of making this happen as it literally maps out where writers should place both their hand and the paper they’ll be writing on. This will lead to a more relaxed posture where writing isn’t obscured by the arm as well as less smudging. The pad has 20 sheets in it which can be torn off, but if you’re careful you can make them last.

Buy now £10.72, Amazon.co.uk

Maped left-handed geometry kit

Best: Geometry set

Rating: 9/10

Every left-handed child should have a geometry set that’s easy to use. Geometry is tricky enough without having to do it the “wrong” way around for you. This is a very simple set of tools including a 30cm ruler where measurements run from right to left and a protractor that is read anti-clockwise.

Buy now £2.89, Giraffegifts.co.uk

Westscott soft grip left handed scissors

Best: Left-handed scissors

Rating: 8/10

Best for children aged four and older, these left-handed scissors have soft grips that are ideal for little hands. The scissors claim to be “indestructible” and we can report that this was put to the test after they were trodden on by a very clumsy parent in walking boots (don’t ask). They remained completely unscathed.

The blades are round, which is best as far as safety is concerned. They sliced through paper and even card easily, and made our little one feel happy and confident in their crafting.

Buy now £1.79, Amazon.co.uk

Faber-Castell scribolino left-handed fountain pen

Best: Fountain pen

Rating: 9/10

Fountain pens can be a nightmare for lefties – remember they are pushing the nib not pulling it – and they run the constant risk of smudging every single letter with their hand or sleeve. But the scribolino is a bit of an antidote to all that.

It works exactly like a right-handed pen, with a sharp, pointed nib and cartridge refills, but it is cleverly designed with a “tripod” grip that’s specially designed for left-handed use. Although there were a couple of smudges to start with, we found this so much easier to work with than any other pen, including ballpoints.

Buy now £10.16, Amazon.co.uk

Stabilo easycolors ergonomic left handed coloured pencils

Best: Colouring pencils

Rating: 8/10

The colours in this wallet are as vivid as any of the Stabilo range but have ergonomic grooves which make them easy for young left-handers to grip. Each pencil has a triangular circumference punctuated by oval grooves on each side, all the way up, meaning that no matter how much you sharpen, the grip won’t run out. We found these super-easy to hold and felt we had greater control when colouring and writing than we have with standard pencils. The brilliant bonus to this set is that it comes complete with a pencil sharpener – left-handed, of course.

Buy now £15, Stabilo-uk.com

Kum lefty pencil sharpener

Best: Pencil sharpener

Rating: 9/10

Oh yes, it’s rare but it does exist – a left handed pencil sharpener. This one has two spaces to cater for different pencil sizes (8mm and 11mm) as well as a container for sharpenings and a lid to store any pesky wood or lead dust. It works beautifully and, after being frustrated by trying to operate a right-handed version, we found it feels really easy to use too.

Buy now £12.73, Amazon.co.uk

The verdict: Stationery for left-handed kids

We think that the Stabilo EASYergo mechanical pencil is a total essential for left-handed kids learning to write. It feels grown-up and exciting as well as being comfortable to hold. We also recommend the Left hand writing skills book not only for the activities but for the endless practical advice.

Voucher codes

For the latest offers on stationery, try the links below:

• Oliver Bonas discount codes
• Joules discount codes

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