Left and right are direction words that help us describe where things are and how to move safely. Young learners use left and right when raising a hand, putting on shoes, following a dance, or walking in a line. Learning these words builds body awareness and helps children follow classroom directions.
A clear picture of a child facing forward makes it easier to connect each word to a hand, foot, and side of the body.
When a child faces you, their left and right are opposite from yours, so practice should focus on the child’s own body first. Repeating actions like raise your right hand or tap your left foot helps the brain connect the word with the movement. Labels, arrows, colored wristbands, and floor markers can make the idea easier to remember.
With practice, children can use left and right to follow paths, describe positions, and play movement games.
Key Facts
- Your left side is the side of your left hand, left arm, and left foot.
- Your right side is the side of your right hand, right arm, and right foot.
- If you raise your right hand, it should be on your own right side.
- When two people face each other, one person’s right may look like the other person’s left.
- Left + right = two opposite sides of your body.
- A good memory clue is L hand makes an L shape with the thumb and pointer finger.
Vocabulary
- Left
- Left is the side of your body with your left hand, left arm, and left foot.
- Right
- Right is the side of your body with your right hand, right arm, and right foot.
- Direction
- A direction tells you which way to move, turn, or look.
- Side
- A side is one half or edge of your body or an object.
- Opposite
- Opposite means on the other side or facing the other way.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying a teacher’s hand like a mirror is a mistake because the teacher may be facing you, so their right looks like your left.
- Switching left and right when turning around is a mistake because your left and right stay with your own body, even when you face a new way.
- Looking at someone else’s shoes to choose your side is a mistake because their left and right may not match what you see from your position.
- Guessing too quickly is a mistake because pausing to find your writing hand or make an L shape can help you choose the correct side.
Practice Questions
- 1 A child takes 2 steps to the left and then 3 steps to the right. How many steps did the child take in all?
- 2 There are 4 stars on the left side of a poster and 5 stars on the right side. How many stars are on the poster altogether?
- 3 You are facing a friend. Your friend raises their right hand. Explain why it may appear on your left side.