At what age will you know which hand a child will use?

Question

My 2 year old daughter likes to color and draw with her left hand. She will also use her right, but it is mostly the left. Does this mean that she will be left handed? Will this cause any problems for her with school? None of my other children are left handed, so I have never had to deal with it before.

Answer 1

I am left handed and 1 of our 3 children is too. I don't recall it ever causing any problems for me at school, and my left handed child doesn't have any issues with school. I think she has an advantage because of me also being left handed. I can show her how to hold scissors, angle her paper for better hand writing, etc.. But regardless, the best thing I think a parent can do is just keep encouraging them. If you attempt to change what is already genetically programmed into her, you will not like the results. It really does not matter what hand they write with. Being left handed is actually a neat thing because its different. Only 1 in 10 are left handed. Many left handed people are very creative and are visual learners.There are all sorts of books, etc. regarding left handedness on Amazon.com Check them out!

Answer 2

It's usually around 3-4 that a definite preference for left or right hand becomes apparent.

At 2 it doesn't matter which hand she uses and it might change, but if she does end up being left handed, it won't cause her any problems at all.

You can buy things like left handed scissors, and left handed other things for anything that seems awkward and they are just the same price as 'normal' things.

No need to worry whatever hand she prefers, but just don't try to stop her doing whatever comes naturally - problems do occur when people try to make left handed children write with their right hand etc.

Answer 3

A child usually shows which hand they will use most when they are still very young. I have a son who is left handed and he is now 19. There is nothing wrong with him at all and he has never had any problems in school. You know what they say about lefties? Only left handed people are in their right minds :)

Answer 4

I know how confused you must be. I am a mum of a 6 and 4 year old. At 2 my eldest was able to use both hands for drawing, writing, eating basically everything. He showed no preference for using one particular hand. This continued until nearly 5. I asked my preschool and they kept telling me not to try and force him to use a particular hand that he would eventually do this on his own. He is now 6 and he is completely right-handed with doing writing, colouring and mostly eating. Sometimes I see him still throwing balls both hands but school considers him right handed. My youngest has always used his right hand. I would suggest not stressing about it and let her choose for herself. I hope this helps!!!

Answer 5

Sounds like shes left handed. I have 2 brothers that are left handed.

Answer 6

My son is six and he is left handed. We could tell from a very early age, because he used to favour his left hand when he reached out for things.

It doesn't cause any trouble for them, I actually quite like it because it is different.

The one thing I will warn is, be careful not to make to much of a big deal about it.

I am not sure if it is where my son gets embarassed by lots of attention, or where he is going through a stage where he doesn't like to be different, but he tries to force himself to be right handed. He writes with his left hand, but tries to do everything else with his right. Even when it comes to eating his dinner he asks (about which hand to hold his knife/fork in)...) 'Mum, is this how right handed people eat?'

Left handed people are supposed to be very creative though. It really is nothing to worry about.

Answer 7

I have two kids (3 and 2) and I'm convinced they're both lefties. They will use their right hand sometimes, but when they really concentrate or try hard to complete any task that involves fine motor skills they always switch to the left.

Answer 8

left handed people are not problematic. they just get to do everything with the other hand. but yeah, it sounds like she is. this baby i call mine started using his left when he was 2. we tried to switch his hands just to see if hed write with the right. he did for a minute or two, but then switched nack when it got too hard.

theres nothing wrong with being left handed

Answer 9

you can tell very early by which thumb they suck, I read recently

my little brothers colored with the left hand sometimes, but they became right-handed.

it doesn't mean anything yet, just don't do anything ridiculous to determine which hand is preferred (some teachers and parents do)

Answer 10

she is still a little young to have settled on her dominant hand. By 4 she will be wither a leftie or rightie. It makes no real difference, lefties sometimes have a harder time learning cursive, but thats really it.