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Will your child be left-handed? What are the chances of them preferring to use their left hand over their right?
Statistics show that approximately 1 in 10 people worldwide are left-handed.
However there appears to be no set age as to when children show a preference over using their left hand instead of their right.
Some 18-month-olds use one hand consistently, for others it’s not obvious until they are 3 or 4 years old.
Most children appear ambidextrous throughout their infancy and toddler years, then natural progression will eventually show which hand is going to dominate.
Spotting a left-handed child
In 2007 scientist Clyde Francks carried out research and found that a gene (LRRTM1) on the father’s side was a major contributor to left-handedness.
However i
f both parents are left-handed, there's a good chance that 50% of their children will be left-handed too.
But if neither parent is a lefty, the probability shrinks to only 2%.
Signs your child could be left-handed
Signs that your child might be left-handed include:
- which hand they use to hold a spoon when eating
- which foot they prefer to kick with
- which hand they use to pick up things or hold a pencil with
- when standing on one leg, which leg they feel more secure on
Supporting a left-handed child
For the most part, being left-handed shouldn't cause any major problems in your child's everyday life.
Being a lefty is not a negative thing, but the world tends to lend itself more to right-handed people as they are in the majority.
If you think your child could be left-handed there are some simple ways to help smooth the path for them:
- Never force a left-hander to be right-handed. They will be clumsier at tasks, which in turn can lower their self-esteem.
- Invest in some basic specialist left-handed equipment for them such as scissors and smudge-free pencils and pens.
- Make sure your child learns to write left-handed. It may sound obvious, but it's their dominant hand, and if they‘re forced to switch it may cause problems later on.
- Parents can also help when their child is older by switching the settings on their computer to make a mouse or cursor more lefty-friendly.
- Most children want to fit in, and because left-handers are in a minority, it can be difficult for them especially when they’re starting school, so make sure they know how special they are.
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