Do you think we should discourage our son being left-handed???

Question

Our son is 20 months old and seems to be left-handed. No one else in our family is and we are a bit naive about it.
Is being left handed a disadvantage and something we should discourage and try to change? or should we just let nature take its course?

Answer 1

Please don't make him use his right hand if he is left handed. Would you have wanted somebody to make you use your left hand all the time? It is not a disadvantage to be left handed in the least.

Answer 2

When a child plays football, it can be a either a left or right footed kicker. We don't change this because we don't see a problem with it. Even when they get older and drive a car they still use the same feet to operate the pedals whether right or left footed. It is the same with hands, if the child feels more comfortable using their left hand then let it be. If you try to change it you may cause distress to the child by acting against their brain. Many people are left handed and it does not affect their life at all. Let nature take it's own course if I were you.

Answer 3

No, you shouldn't discourage it. I'm a rightie myself, but i don't think i'm at an advantage just because of that. Some things may be prejudiced against left handers (like those chairs you get in school) but i don't think these little things should actually make you think that being right handed is better than being left handed!
Just let your son develop whatever hand he is comfortable with. My grandma was pretty old school and had the same view that left handedness was somehow 'wrong' and forced one of my cousins to use his right hand. All the good that that did was make him ambidextrous!

Answer 4

If your child is left handed at that age its really hard to tell if at the moment he just prefers to use this hand it doesn't mean he will use it all the time, if he in fact still is using his left why should it cause a problem, you cannot discourage this and its good he wants to draw .. my twin son uses both hands but now prefers his left.. and hes doing OK ..

Answer 5

My husband is left handed and he is the smartest person I've ever known. When he was small he was made to do things with his right hand as being left handed was not accepted he can now use both hands but he say's it was like being treated as if he had something wrong with him, which we all know being left handed is no different from being right handed.
Don't try to change who he is.

Answer 6

why on earth would you want to change that he is left handed. FYI: many of the most intelligent people that I have known in my life have been left handed - they tend to be more intelligent, articulate and artistic.
How could the hand that he use be a disadvantage...well maybe if he plans to drive a stickshift, but my husband is a lefty and drives a stick just fine...

Answer 7

Definitely DO NOT try to switch him! All this will do will cause him to use a hand for writing, sports, etc... that his brain is not programmed to use and you will have very negative consequences! I am a former teacher and have seen what happens to children whose parents forced them to use their right hand when they were left-handed. Their handwriting was terrible! And it was obvious that it was uncomfortable for them! There are a ton of books out there on this very subject. Try checking them out on Amazon.com As for no one in your family being left handed- I would not be surprised if somewhere down the line, an older relative should have been left handed but was forced to use their right hand!

Answer 8

do not attempt to alter it. If it seems your son is left exceeded then that is going to merely experience organic to him. sure, the worldwide is greater suited-hand oriented, yet left exceeded human beings can nevertheless do properly. in the outdated days, left exceeded human beings have been compelled to apply thier suited hand at college, and this grow to be the main undesirable project. They have been made to experience like they have been unusual or worse. This occurred to my Grandad, inspite of the actuality that he grow so as to apply the two hands in the tip. although, 20 months remains extremely youthful. i'm confident my son is left exceeded - possibly mom's intuition slightly - he does seem to desire the left, inspite of the actuality that he kicks balls together with his suited foot, and could additionally tutor indicators of being suited exceeded. he's 3 now, and that i'm greater susceptible to declare he would be left exceeded, yet nevertheless not possibly 100pc particular. there are a number of left exceeded issues obtainable, left exceeded scissors, computing gadget mice may be set up for left handers etc. So there will be no desire for him to be at any draw back.

Answer 9

No, do NOT try to change him! It can actually cause neurological problems if you try to make him use his less dominant hand. That's the way he was wired, and that's the way he's going to be. Please just accept that.
Being a leftie is not a disability. Despite myths, lefties are at no disadvantage compared to righties. In fact, it is said that lefties tend to be smarter!
I've been a southpaw my entire life, and I'm also the only one in my family. I've had no problems functioning because of it.

Answer 10

I personally think that if your child is using his left then leave him to it---he wont be at a disadvantge as educational facilities will ensure all children have access to equipment and that children's choice is respected. We have plenty of left and right handed children-usually up to 3/4 years they switch and change hands as they learn new skills-eg: one boy i care for uses right to hold pencil, left to use scissors, pick up small items....when their brain is ready it will decide which hand is the strongest.

So basically-dont worry :) If you are worried about disrupting him-put toys down infront of him and let him pick it up himself-he will pick it up with the most comortable hand.