Left-handed kids draw best when the paper is tilted to the right, they hold the pencil a little further from the tip, and they work from right to left when they can so their hand doesn’t smudge the lines. Fast-drying tools and a scrap sheet under the hand help too. Lefties don’t need different lessons, just a few small adjustments.
Common challenges for lefties
- Smudging. The hand drags across fresh pencil or marker.
- Hooked wrist. Some lefties curl the wrist above the line to see what they’re drawing.
- Hidden lines. The hand covers what they just drew.
- Right-handed demos. Watching a right-handed teacher can be confusing.
7 tips that help
- Tilt the paper. Turn the top of the paper to the right (clockwise) about 20 to 30 degrees. This lets the wrist stay straight and the child see the line.
- Hold the pencil a bit higher. About 2 to 3 centimeters from the tip, so the hand doesn’t block the view.
- Work right to left. When coloring or adding details, start on the right side of the page.
- Use a scrap sheet. A piece of paper under the hand protects the drawing.
- Choose quick-drying tools. Colored pencils and crayons smudge less than some markers. See art supplies by age.
- Sit on the left. In a group, seat lefties on the left end so elbows don’t bump.
- Mirror demos. When teaching, sit across from a lefty child so they can mirror your hand.
Grip for lefties
Lefties go through the same grip stages as righties. See pencil grip by age. A hooked wrist often comes from paper that’s angled the wrong way, so try tilting it before correcting the wrist.
Tracing and step-by-step pages
Both work well for left-handed kids:
- Tracing: start lines from the right or top where possible.
- Step-by-step: on a How to Draw page, the light gray guide shows the whole finished drawing, so kids don’t have to watch a demonstrating hand at all.
- Grid drawing: start in the top-right square and work left and down.
Encouragement
Some left-handed kids decide they’re “messy” because of smudges. Tell them it’s the tools and the angle, not their ability. Many famous artists were left-handed.
The book that helps
Trace Then Color and How to Draw pages work for lefties and righties alike: the guide is on the page, not in a demo hand that blocks the view.
Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals
How to Draw: Cute Cartoon AnimalsAs an Amazon Associate, FirstArtBooks earns from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
How should a left-handed child position the paper?
Tilt the top of the paper to the right, about 20 to 30 degrees, so the wrist stays straight.
How do left-handed kids avoid smudging?
Work from right to left, use a scrap sheet under the hand and choose colored pencils or crayons over wet markers.
Should I teach a left-handed child to use their right hand?
No. Let children use their dominant hand and adjust the paper and tools instead.