Picking A Hand - Preference
Hand Dominance in Children: Guidance for Parents
As children grow, they begin to show preferences in their activities, including which hand they use for writing and play. This development of hand dominance is a significant milestone, but it can also raise questions and concerns for parents. Understanding how to identify hand preference, the benefits of establishing a dominant hand, and what to do if you can't tell which hand your child prefers is essential to supporting your child's development. Here's the lowdown for parents on hand dominance in children.
Identifying Hand Dominance
Hand dominance, or hand preference, is the tendency to use one hand more naturally and effectively than the other for tasks such as writing, eating, and throwing. Most children start showing a preference for one hand over the other by age 2 to 4 years. However, it's not uncommon for hand dominance to be fully established by the age of 5 or 6. Here are some indicators that can help you identify your child's dominant hand:
Observation: Pay attention to which hand your child consistently uses for various activities, such as reaching, eating, drawing, and playing.
Encouragement: Provide opportunities for your child to use their hands in activities that require hand use, like coloring, building blocks, and playing with playdough, to see which hand they favor.
Consistency: Look for consistency in hand use across different tasks. A dominant hand will usually be used across a variety of activities.
The Benefits of Choosing a Dominant Hand
Establishing hand dominance is important for several reasons:
Skill Development: Using a consistent hand for writing and other fine motor tasks helps children develop skill, strength, and dexterity in that hand, leading to improved handwriting, coordination, and efficiency.
Cognitive Development: Hand dominance supports brain development and lateralization, which is the division of labor between the two hemispheres of the brain. This specialization can enhance cognitive processes such as language and analytical thinking.
Confidence and Success: Children who have established a dominant hand often experience less frustration and more success in tasks that require fine motor skills, contributing to greater confidence in their abilities.
What If You Can't Tell?
Sometimes, it can be challenging to determine a child's dominant hand, especially if they seem to use both hands equally (ambidexterity) or switch hands frequently (mixed-handedness). In these cases, consider the following:
Patience: Allow your child more time to develop a preference naturally. Forcing a hand preference can lead to frustration and confusion.
Consultation: If you're concerned about your child's hand dominance or its impact on their development, consulting with a pediatrician or occupational therapist can provide guidance and support.
The Pros and Cons of Hand Dominance
While establishing hand dominance has benefits, it's also essential to recognize the potential challenges and advantages of both right-handed and left-handedness.
Right-handedness: Being right-handed is more common, and the world is primarily designed for right-handed individuals, from tools and instruments to the layout of notebooks and desks. This can make certain tasks more straightforward for right-handed children. However, it can also lead to less encouragement to develop skills in the non-dominant hand.
Left-handedness: Left-handed children may face challenges with certain tools and environments designed for right-handed individuals. However, as they adapt to a right-handed world, they often develop greater ambidexterity and problem-solving skills. Some studies suggest (Stanley Coren, "The Left-Hander Syndrome: The Causes and Consequences of Left-Handedness" (1992)) that left-handed individuals may excel in creative and visual thinking.
Encouraging Development Without Forcing a Choice
Establishing hand dominance is unique for each child and should be approached with patience and encouragement. Here are some strategies for supporting your child:
Provide a Variety of Tools: If your child shows a preference for left-hand tools, offer tools and toys that encourage the use of both hands and those designed for left-handed individuals.
Avoid Pressuring: Encourage your child to use their preferred hand for precision tasks, but avoid pressuring them to choose a hand before they are ready.
Celebrate Uniqueness: Whether your child is right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous, celebrate their unique abilities and encourage them to be confident in their preferences.
Clap, Clap, Clap
Hand dominance is a natural part of development that plays a significant role in a child's motor and cognitive growth. By observing, encouraging, and supporting your child's hand preference, you can help them grip the challenges and benefits of establishing a dominant hand. Whether right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous, what matters most is providing a supportive environment that builds confidence, skill development, and a sense of achievement in all their endeavors.
Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.
