How to help kids learn left from right

Quick tips to teach left from right

• Quick tip 1

  Repeat “Left hand makes the L.”

  

  Repeat “Left hand makes the L.”

  Place kids’ hands on a piece of paper, palms down and thumbs stretched out. Trace down the left index finger and across the left thumb to create an “L.” Next time they need to figure out which way is left, they can hold their hands out and look for the “L.”

• Quick tip 2

  Wear a bracelet.

  

  Wear a bracelet.

  Let kids choose which wrist to wear a bracelet or rubber band on. If they choose the left wrist, help them keep wearing the bracelet on that wrist. That way, when they see the bracelet, they’ll know that’s their left side.

• Quick tip 3

  Always start with the dominant hand.

  

  Always start with the dominant hand.

  For kids who show dominance in one hand, always start activities with that hand and announce what side that is. For example, “Take your right hand and use it to start dribbling the basketball.”