Handwriting is unfortunately (and wrongly) usually taught as though every child were right-handed, so a left-handed child is often left to work out their own way of holding the pencil and positioning the paper. That is when smudged work, a hooked wrist and a tight grip tend to appear. A few changes to position, grip and equipment deal with most of it.

This guide starts with position and grip, then covers whether to change a grip a child already has, smudging, pencils and pens, and practice books. It is written for parents; teachers may also find our left-handed teacher resources useful.

Start with position, grip and posture

Three things decide how comfortable writing is: where the paper is, how the pencil is held and how the child sits.

Paper. Left-handed children generally write more comfortably with the paper turned so that the top edge points a little to the right, which makes the lines slope down towards the right. Both of our writing mats show this slant, and the Left Write Mat says that writing on a slant should help stop smudging. The aim is for the hand to stay below the writing line, so that it goes under the writing instead of over it, and the child can see what they have just written.

Grip. For a child who is just starting to write, aim for a dynamic tripod grip. The pencil is held lightly between the thumb and the first two fingers, about 1.5 to 2cm from the tip as our mats show, which keeps the tip in view, and rests in the V between thumb and index finger, with the wrist as straight as possible. The fingers can then move the pencil to form letters, and the thumb does not roll over the top and sit on the index finger. The grip also stays the same as the hand grows. Young children often hold a pencil with four fingers, because their fingers are small. Move them on to three fingers as their hand grows, preferably a little before four fingers become awkward. Two things help a child find the grip: the HandiWriter has a soft wrist loop, a small loop that goes round the pen or pencil, and a cord with a charm held in the palm of the hand, which encourage the tripod grip without the child having to think about it, and the Sattler moulded pencil grips (pack of 3) guide the fingers into position on pencils, pens and brushes up to 12mm across, with the thumb in the recess marked L.

Posture and arm angle. The Left Write Mat is an A3 wipe-clean mat that shows the paper position, pen hold and arm angle for left-handed writing, with reminders for posture and letter formation. You put the paper on top of the guidelines and follow the reminders. The Writewell Mat shows paper and pen positioning and how to write upper and lower case letters, and comes in colour options that can help children with dyslexia or visual stress. Both are double-sided, with right-handed positioning on the reverse.

Should you try to change a grip?

A good grip is easiest to set up before a child has settled on a way of holding the pencil. A child who has not yet started to write can be shown a comfortable grip and paper position from the first day. A child who is already writing has chosen a grip, and the longer it has been practised, the harder it is to change.

Before you suggest any change, ask three questions.

• Is the writing a problem? If the handwriting is legible, reasonably fast and comfortable, there is usually no need to change a grip that works, even if it looks unusual.
• How long has the grip been practised? The longer a child has written with it, the more awkward and slow a change is likely to feel at first.
• How is the child coping? Make small changes, a little at a time, with a grip aid or a writing mat. If the child is unhappy, or the writing gets worse and stays worse, stop and go back to what they were comfortable with.

If the writing is hard to read or the child complains that writing tires their hand, a change may be worth trying. We cannot promise that it will improve the handwriting, or say how quickly. The child's own comfort comes first.

Stop the smudging

A left-handed child writes in the same direction as everyone else, but the hand follows the pen and drags across what has just been written. Better paper position helps, and so does ink that dries quickly.

• The Stabilo EASYoriginal rollerball has a grip reverse-moulded for left-handed writing and a non-scratch, non-drip nib. It is suited to children aged 6 and over and is refillable.
• The Maped Visio ballpoint has a hooked neck and an off-centre tip, so the child can see what they are writing, and fast-drying non-smudge ink.
• Our left-handed school cartridge pen has a left-handed nib, slanted the opposite way and cut at a steeper angle, so it can be pushed across the page rather than pulled, which is the more comfortable direction for the left hand.
• The Helix Oxford Tri-Grip pens are not specifically left-handed, but they are ambidextrous, with a triangular grip and very quick-drying ink, and come in packs of 10.

Our full range of left-handed pens includes cartridge pens and refills.

Choose the right pencil

Younger children usually start with a pencil. The Stabilo EASYgraph is a triangular pencil with a grip moulded for the left hand, and the staggered grip zone keeps prompting the correct hold as the pencil is sharpened down. It has a 3.15mm HB lead and is suitable for children aged 5 and over; a yellow end identifies the left-handed version. The slimmer EASYgraph SLIM has a 2.2mm lead, for older children writing on fine lines or squared paper.

Sharpening is another small job that suits the right-handed. A left-handed sharpener has the blade reversed, so you hold the pencil in the left hand and the sharpener in the right, and turn anti-clockwise, which feels natural to a left-hander.

Teach letter formation

Position and equipment get a child comfortable; formation is what makes writing neat. The Left Hand Writing Skills books by Mark and Heather Stewart are three A4 workbooks for left-handed children. Book 1, Fabulous Fine Motor Skills, establishes paper position and pencil hold and builds fine motor skills; its illustrations are aimed mainly at 6 to 7 year olds. Book 2, Funky Formation and Flow, moves from letters to words, and Book 3, Successful Smudge-Free Writing, covers accurate letter formation and preventing smudging. The pages are bound from the top, so the left hand can rest on a level surface. You can buy the set of all three and save 10%.

Other school equipment

Writing is only part of the school day. Left-handed children also need scissors with reversed blades (our children's scissors buying guide compares them), rulers numbered from right to left so the hand does not cover the measurements, and notebooks that are bound on the right, as explained in our guide to left-handed spiral notebooks.

If you would rather buy a few items together, the left-handed school starter set is aimed at a child just starting school and costs less than buying the items separately. It contains scissors, colouring pencils, two Stabilo EASYgraph pencils, pencil grips, a HandiWriter, a sharpener, a ruler, Writing Skills Book 1 and an eraser. There are more in our children's sets.

Frequently asked questions

How should a left-handed child hold a pencil?

With a dynamic tripod grip: the pencil held lightly between the thumb and the first two fingers, about 1.5 to 2cm from the tip, resting in the V between thumb and index finger, with the wrist as straight as possible. The fingers do the moving and the hand stays under the writing. A moulded pencil grip or the HandiWriter writing aid can help a child find that grip.

Should I change my left-handed child's pencil grip?

Not necessarily. If a child's handwriting is legible, comfortable and reasonably fast, there is usually no need to change a grip that works. A good grip is easiest to set up before a child starts to write, and harder to change the longer an existing grip has been practised. If you do try a change, make it a little at a time, stop if the child is unhappy or the writing gets worse, and put the child's comfort first. We cannot promise that a change will improve handwriting, or say how quickly.

What is the best pencil for a left-handed child?

Our Stabilo EASYgraph left-handed pencil has a triangular barrel with a grip moulded for the left hand. The 3.15mm version suits younger children and those with grip difficulties, and the slimmer 2.2mm version suits older children writing on fine lines or squared paper.

How do I stop my left-handed child smudging their writing?

Smudging happens because the left hand follows the pen across the page. Aim for the pencil tip to sit above the line of the hand, so that the hand goes under the writing instead of over it. A dynamic tripod grip with the pencil in the V between thumb and index finger, and the paper turned so the top edge points a little to the right, both help. A pen with fast-drying ink, or a pencil while the child is learning, reduces the problem further.

Which pen is best for a left-handed child?

It depends on the child. The Stabilo EASYoriginal rollerball has a grip reverse-moulded for the left hand and is suited to children aged 6 and over. The Maped Visio ballpoint has a hooked neck and off-centre tip so the child can see what they are writing, with fast-drying ink.

Is there a left-handed starter set for school?

Yes. Our left-handed school starter set for ages 4 to 6 includes child scissors, colouring pencils, two Stabilo EASYgraph pencils, pencil grips, a HandiWriter, a pencil sharpener, a ruler, Left Hand Writing Skills Book 1 and an eraser, at a discount on buying the items separately.

Do you deliver left-handed school supplies worldwide?

Yes. We deliver worldwide, and shipping outside the UK is charged by weight.