Spatial orientation

Many left-handed children build their picture of space from their own dominant side. Instructions that assume a right-handed reference can confuse them.

What you'll notice

• Turning the wrong way when told "left" or "right".
• Copying a movement shown by the teacher as its mirror image.
• Difficulty with maps, plans and "the right-hand page".
• Uncertainty with clockwise, mirrored shapes and symmetry tasks.

Why it happens

Left and right are learned from one's own body. A child who leads with the left side often uses a different anchor than the class expects.

When the teacher faces the class, every movement is shown mirrored. For a left-handed child this can add a second reversal on top of the first.

In the classroom

1. Demonstrate movements standing beside the child, facing the same direction.
2. Give a fixed physical anchor (a bracelet, a mark on the desk) instead of "left" and "right".
3. Use landmarks in instructions: "towards the window", "towards the door".

At home

• Read maps together on walks and let the child lead the way.
• Play building, puzzle and direction games.
• Use the same anchor word at home and at school.

Exercise to print

[EXERCISE NAME FROM THE BOOK] [SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE EXERCISE]

[SHORT QUOTE FROM THE BOOK] ([AUTHOR NAME], [BOOK TITLE])