Daughter and computer mouse question--

[Mayzoo]

Is this normal for a 5 yr old...or autistic/neurological? In other words---anyone else’s kid do this:

My daughter is ambidextrous--if she grabs the mouse with her right hand she attempts to operate it with her pinkie and ring finger (essentially right clicking)--however if she grabs it with her left hand--she still clicks with pinkie and ring, but turns out to be the "proper" button clicking. She is very determined--I have tried to modify this behavior in many ways (including doing nothing and her not getting a response from the program).

Anyone else?

 

[kayd1966]

Mayzoo!!! (my daughter is a New Years Baby...she's only 4 though)

My son uses the mouse with his right hand...when the kids were younger and just learning to use the mouse, I put a small sticker on the correct button...they could see which button to use and both of them adjusted their hands and fingers to click in a way that was comfortable for them. They also use a smaller mouse (one of those laptop ones) that fits their little hands.

 

[Lena75]

My daughter (who is normal) keeps using her thumb to click on the mouse. I think she has it downpat now, but it takes kids getting used to using things properly.

 

[Mayzoo]

I found a program that allows me to use "hot keys" to switch the mouse from right to left handed. She uses it in her right hand, but clicks the right button. This program makes it very simple for us both to use the mouse without constant desktop, mouse reprograming . I can press one key on the computer, and it changes the prefrences from right to left....this is awesome for any family that has righties and lefties sharing a mouse!! She can now use her right hand, and click the right button without a problem. I could use the mouse as a leftie....but then that would cause me problems at work--I already adapted once to use it as a rightie......I am thrilled with the program!!! AND it was free.

This is a way of "getting around" the issue without the constant frustration, and anger she feels when trying to use the computer. I am still going to try to get her to use it right handed, and clicking the left button--it will be easier in our/her goal of mainstreaming in life.

Thanks for the Happy Birthday!! That was sweet.

 

[becstar77]

Mayzoo, the behaviour (that I refer to as a skill) is not something that needs to be worried about. It is common for ambidextrous people to be able to switch between hands and not become "confused"... the fact that she is able to go between hands and perform the same operation in "mirror image" is a huge skill and I would try and keep it going as long as possilbe.

Here you say she is able to switch hands and perform the same function in mirror :

if she grabs the mouse with her right hand she attempts to operate it with her pinkie and ring finger (essentially right clicking)--however if she grabs it with her left hand--she still clicks with pinkie and ring, but turns out to be the "proper" button clicking

Here you recognise that for you to do that causes you to become confused:

I could use the mouse as a leftie....but then that would cause me problems at work--I already adapted once to use it as a rightie.

I was ambidextrous as a child. When I started grade one in the early 80's I had a teacher that was at the end of her career and was from an "old school" way of teaching. When writing in class if one hand became tired I would switch hands and continue writing. My teacher didn't like this one bit and specialists were called in to "train" me to write with only one hand. The specialists chose that I should be left handed as my Mother was left handed - I could have cursed them years on when I was in high school and would get the left handed smudge on my paper during test and assignments.

What your daughter is doing is very clever....