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Handedness
Hi... How do I find out the handedness of my 3y 8m old child?
He hates writing or colouring. But what I observed, yesterday and today, he refers his left hand to colour with those fat kindergarten crayons. Pencil grip and control is a bit better in left. Maybe 10percent better.
He eats noodles with left, uses spoon with right very well. Kicks ball with right but shakes hand with left.
I'm only a bit anxious that I don't want to make him write with the non dominant hand... He has got some assignments from school and I don't want to coerce him into using his non-dominant hand. How should I go about it...?
Answers (11)
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Child will.develop his handedness himslef within 3-4 years age .
Don't worry
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He is just 3 years old child . Let him do whatever however he wants to do . No need to find out anything.
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Handedness develops by 2 to 4 years of age.It is influenced by parents handedness genetically.If the child is right handed then left cerebral hemisphere is dominant and vice versa.These things cannot be controlled by any therapy.
Next Steps
wait and watch
Health Tips
Good nutrition and balanced diet
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Well, your child is in the age where he will develop handedness. Before permanent handedness settles in he was swap between the hands. However, do not force him to use one over the other, let it take its natural course. Please do no confuse him because it is his learning period.
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Be assured that he will not have any trouble whichever handedness he develops. Encourage and support him, without manipulating.
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Handedness usually develops by four years. Can vary also so, wait and observe.
Next Steps
wait and watch
Health Tips
don't force handedness on him
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A hand preference or hand dominance usually start to develop between ages of 2 to 4 years. However it is common at this stage for children to Swap hands right and left .Between 4 to 6 years clear hand preference is established. Even if left handed do not worry and don't force the child to change the hand to right hand for writing as forcing at this stage will create confusion in the child
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No need to worry Wait and watch and and don't force the child to any particular preference at this stage
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Don’t try to force your child for preferences of right hand
Hand preference is natural it will develop as per the the brain development
It is normal weather left or right hand your child use
Next Steps
Visit your pediatrician for other assessments
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He looks like someone who is bidexterous , meaning he can use both hands.. Let him decide which hand he wants to use for what purpose. Give him the choice to use both and he will decide what works best for him. It may be that he can write with both hands, some people can..he may even prefer to eat with one hand and write with the other..
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Handedness is usually established by 4to 4and a half years.
Till then it keeps changing.
Wait for him to fix to one side
Even if he is left handed you can not change.
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May be is left handed. 10 percent population use the left hand for writing. In a study they are more intelligent then right handed persons. They also use their right hand for some activities.
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wait and do in which way he is more convenient. Don't force him. Because it's hardly going to ake a difference in his development
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Dr. Devaraja
Pediatrician
11 yrs exp
Coimbatore
There are often shifts of handedness from side to side in the fi rst year, with a predominance of left handedness in the earlier weeks, and a shift to the right in the second 6 months. Handedness is usually established by about 2 years, but is often not fi rmly established until the age of 3 or 4. When the child is old enough, he can be tested by getting him to draw, rub with a duster, throw a ball, pick up an object from the fl oor, cut paper with scissors, wind a clock or place an object in a tin. The dominant foot is found by getting him to kick a ball. The dominant ear is tested by holding a watch in the midline in front of him and asking him to listen to it. The dominant eye is found by making a hollow roll of fi rm paper and asking him to look at an object through it.social pressure also plays a role.
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