how do you tell Handedness in toddlers?

Question

4 yrs old boy golfs lefty bats lefty draws righty writes righty most is both

hes my little cousin. I am trying to help him write his name family and friends names . Some #'s too. I am 14

Answer 1

He could be ambidextrous. I fall into that category. I bat and throw right handed, but write lefty, use lefty utensil setup, righty scissors, right mouse. However, I can use both for most things.

Ambidexterity could be a good thing. I was a straight A student and got a degree in physics. Switch-hitters also make big bucks in baseball.

Face it...your child is a genius so don't go old school Catholic nun on him and force him to use a hand he doesn't prefer.

You can always try the crayon toss. Throw a bunch of crayons in front of him and see which hand he uses to start drawing. (you should probably do this more than once). I picked up one crayon in each hand and started drawing with both. I think the nun told my mom I was possessed or something, but that was a long time ago.... ;)

Answer 2

At 4, he probably hasn't truly developed a dominant hand. Most likely, though, he will be right-handed because that is the hand is mainly uses for drawing and writing. Until he was about 5, my son would often switch his crayons into the other hand when one got tired.

It's not unusual for people to bat lefty and write righty (or vice versa). He might have an advantage in learning skills such as piano, drums, or typing because he's comfortable using both hands.

Answer 3

Place a spoon or something directly in front of him. Then say "pick it up". He will most likely pick it up each time with the same hand, and that's the hand he'll probably end up writing with. How they write determines their handedness more so than the side they choose in sports. Sometimes kids don't develop a preference until they've been writing for awhile.

Answer 4

At 4-years old, it's possible that they might be ambidextrous. I used to think my 4 year old was a lefty, but she's grown into almost a completely right-handed kid. Maybe his creative side is using the right hand and the more analytic/sports side is using the right hand - ambidextosity is cool!

Answer 5

Most kids will use both hand for a while, I thought one of my three was going to be a lefty, but no. Just let them do what is natural for them. It's not important which hand becomes dominant.

Answer 6

He may be ambidextrous. I was until I was about 12 then my right dominance took over. You can let him choose his writing handedness by offering the crayons to his center and then let him decide which hand he will use to draw and write.

Don't stress about it though. I've never heard of a child who failed to learn to write because they couldn't figure out which hand they wanted to use.

Answer 7

No not really. At an indoor playground a lady said my daughter was a lefty but she turned out right handed.

Answer 8

i golf, bat and throw a frisbee left handed and i tried to write left handed as a preschooler, but my teacher "corrected me" in kindergarten and so i write right handed.

try making a painting and see which hand the little guy uses for the brush- maybe fingerpainting... something that requires extended use of the hands.

Answer 9

Hand him a crayon or pencil and see which hand he likes to hold it in. Whichever hand he chooses, just teach him how to write. He may switch for a while. Just let him lead.


I think my daughter's a rightie because she draws with and hold her fork in her right hand.

Answer 10

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND CHILDREN DEVELOP AT DIFFERENT AGES OF COURSE BUT MY DAUGHTER SEEMED TO BE QUITE LEFT HANDED AS A TODDLER. SO I WOULD HAND HER ANYTHING IN HER RIGHT HAND AND SHE WOULD USE IT WITH NO PROBLEM. I AM MAINLY A LEFTY WHO CAN USE BOTH EASILY BUT ITS BEEN A PAIN IN A RIGHT HANDED WORLD SO I QUIETLY ENCOURAGED HER TO USE HER RIGHT HAND. SHE IS 30 AND HAS BEAUTIFUL HANDWRITING. I NEVER DID GET IN A HURRY TO HAVE HER DO ANYTHING UNTIL SHE WAS READY.