I was just curious if anyone knows when it becomes clear whether a child will be left-handed or right-handed. I have a daughter who will be 2 years old in May and she tends to favor her left hand. At meal times we typically start her out with a utensil in her right hand and she almost always ends up switching it to her left. When she picks up a crayon or other writing instrument she almost always uses her left hand. I suspect it's too early to know for sure, but I thought I'd toss the question out there. I don't recall my older daughter ever using her left hand for anything significant.
Thanks for any input you might have!
HI KT,
I'd say its pretty clear that she favors her left hand. I have a son who is ambidextrous- he does some things righty and some things lefty. The only real challenges were using scissors and learning to print. Lefty scissors make a huge difference, and so does turning the paper so that the left corner is higher than the right when she's coloring. Using a bit of tape will help to secure her paper to the table. Hope this helps, A..
Dear K,
In my experience my daughter was left-handed from early on. She is 3.5 now. My son is almost 2 and it is not clear which hand he will favor. He eats mostly with his right hand, but throws with his left and draws with both. I suspect he will gradually favor his right over his left (although I secretly hope for another creative lefty like his mommy and sister :)
Hope this helps.
Hi! I'm the mother of three children, 10, 7 & 4. One girl and 2 boys. Although none of my children are lefties, my husband is. My mohter-in-law had told me that she didn't try to force my husband to use his right hand. She let him naturally choose which hand he was more comfortable using. I have heard it can run in families...my husband had an uncle and great uncle who he favors and both were lefties. I've always thougth it was cool to meet someone who is left-handed...I would let her choose instead of picking for her and see how she develops. If she is forced to write with her right-hand and her left is more dominant, she may have trouble forming letters and numbers(I'm also a teacher). Good luck!!Debbie
Good question. My daughter just turned 5, she is in kindergarten and she does all of her work with her right hand, but does everything else with her left. In fact when putting on shoes, or picking something out she will say I want the left one first. She has used both hands since she's been able to hold a rattle.
From what I've been told, I was the same way. To this day, I write only with my right and do everything else with my left hand. It's weird, but some people are just wired this way my daughters pedi said so I'm just going with that.
My son on the other hand was a strong right hander from birth. He grabbed everything with his right hand, waved bye-bye with his right, blew kisses with his right, ate with right, etc., I think you know where I'm going, LOL! Anywho, he was a rightie from the start, so I guess it just depends on the kid, some you can tell right away, and then there are those who will keep you guessing, like my stubborn little princess.
My daughter is 16 months old & uses her right hand. My son was about the same age when he started showing a preference. I sort of get the impression that it is a problem for her to be left handed. But, I agree with Marianne, if she's showing a preference let her use it. I don't know that this is something you can switch.
I think it varies from kid to kid. I have 5 year old twins and my daughter started out picking things up, eating, coloring, etc with her left hand (from one year on) and is still a lefty. My son switched on and off for quite a while and I'd say he's definitely a righty for eating and writing. He still switches when he throws a ball, plays with his golf clubs, and other sports stuff. He didn't really start showing a consistent preference until probably 3 years old.
I am a lefty and when I was in grade school, I had a teacher in 2nd grade who would take the pencil out of my left hand and put it in my right. I would switch it back--I couldn't write with my right hand, still can't. I'd say, if your daughter is showing a preference, let her use the left hand.
M.
