left or right handed

[mumsy]

Is there a certain age where a child should show preference to use one hand over the other?

My son is nearly 4 years old and still uses both hands for scribbling. He doesn't have very good pencil control and I'm wondering whether it's because he's using both hands, whereas a child using exclusively one hand for writing would have stronger muscle development in that hand.

I think he is more right handed than left handed though, since he holds a pencil more correctly with his right hand. Should I encourage him to use his right hand or just let him develop/choose naturally.

By the way, I'm predominantly left handed although there are some activities where I would use my right hand. My husband is right handed.

[carang]

usually by 3 years of age a child has "chosen" which hand they prefer. If he hasn't done this yet, then i would gently encourage him to use whichever hand he uses most often.

[Bumps]

Here is a good website to check out regarding handedness:

Handedness in Children - Kids Development (UK)

It also has some other interesting topics too!

[Sleuth]

My brother used to write left-handed on one side of the paper and switch to right-handed on the other side. He could switch hit (American baseball) but was better as a lefty at hitting and catching as a righty. He is, to this day, a semi-normal, functioning adult.
Why would you want to force a handedness? It eventually occurs by itself.

[0ze_Kid]

I have one child who is using both left and write. She is 2.5 so I am sure that she will choose once she starts school. Her grandfather can write both write and left. Maybe she will continue to share the job too - which I am not fussed with.

I remember people trying to force my little brother to write with his right hand and he just didn't want to! I know things have changed now.

[Shenzhennifer]

My baby started showing a preference for his left hand as soon as he started grabbing at and holding things. I don`t care if he`ll be a leftie - he is who he is.

[carang]

SLEUTH>>> WOW! that's really cool! i saw a woman on OPRAH that could write correctly with her left hand while at the same time write backwards with her right... it was REALLY REALLY COOL! and kinda freaky...

[Sleuth]

I don't think my brother could ever do both at the same time. But you know how lefties have to drag their arrm across the page when they write? Not if you can write with both hands.