Behavior Help for Left-Handed Children, using a Red Paper?
Red Paper, Image from World Wide Web, at:
http://www.imagineartisans.com/index.php?cPath=86&osCsid=6f1894f9
I have a left-handed child in class who hasn’t been behaving well. He’s constantly out of his chair, talks a lot in class, and loves to laugh and play (when he shouldn’t be, such as during lessons). Otherwise, he is a very bright student. Our other teachers find his behavior difficult in their classes, too.
Our art teacher proposed an easy, innovative solution. She says that often (but not always, left-handed children are right-brained. She says that for right-brained children, it has been found that red can be a “calming” color. She says she had one student who, after putting a red paper on his desk, improved his behavior so much that he credits all of his subsequent success (even through university) to the red paper. It sounds to me like some of this could be the “placebo” effect. But what have we got to lose by trying it?
I spoke to the students’ parents, who were not averse to him trying it, but were concerned he might not like being the “only” one. So I asked both of the left-handed boys in class if they would like to try red papers, explaining that it sometimes helps left-handed people to” concentrate” better. They both said they would like to try it. I proposed trying it for a couple weeks, then see if they like it, and let them decide for themselves if they want to continue.I told the rest of the class (making it up) that for right-handed children, green helps them to concentrate better. Anticipating that the rest of the class would ask to have green papers taped to their desks, and not wanting to do that, I told them that is wasn’t necessary since we have a giant green chalkboard in the front of the class already. I said that that was the reason why “blackboards” were changed from black to green (not knowing that this is the reason, but telling them that). Sure enough, some kids did ask for green papers, and I had this explanation prepared and ready!
So we’ll see how the kids feel about the red paper, and if it works, or even if the kids like the “placebo” effect. Meanwhile, I’d be very interested in the opinions of any left-handed readers out there, or anyone else who might have special knowledge of right-left brain studies.
Eileen
Each side of the brain is responsible for a different manner of thinking.
Image from World Wide Web, at: http://www.squidoo.com/braintest/
October 10, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Your discussion of using red paper to help left-handers behave better was interesting to me as a person who has studied the Split Brain Theory extensively. I have never heard anything of the sort. In fact, psychological studies of the effects of colors on behavior support just the opposite, ie., that red excites rather than calms. There was a time when penal institutions were experimenting with painting cafeterias pink to calm the prisoners while they ate.
The only rationale I can think of to support the concept is the practice of giving retalin (which is an upper to adults) to hyperactive (ADD) children because they actually have low brain activity. The theory goes that the stimulant helps the child focus. It’s counter intuitive but is the only explanation I’ve ever heard.
Your discussion of the teacher who had an amazing ability to teach art reminds me of the book, “Drawing on the Right Side” by Betty Edwards. She teaches the reader (and her students to shift the view of the subject they are drawing to the right brain and Eureka!, draw in perfect perspective. I have had this experience myself, and it really works. I wonder if the teacher you mentioned is using such a procedure.
October 12, 2007 at 12:49 pm
This is very informative! I’m more right brained than left, and I have always felt red way more calming than not. Hmm. Wonder if there is something to this?
October 27, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Followup: My two left-handed kids seem to feel that the red paper is helping, but my thoughts are that it is most likely the “placebo” effect.
Eileen