Righty vs. Lefty: When did you know?

Azureina

When did you know your child was a righty or lefty? I'm still on the fence a bit about ours.

He writes with his right hand and does it well. But the way he holds the crayon is awkward.  My husband and I keep showing him how to hold it correctly, and up until now I had been chalking it up to his age (3).  But when it came to scissors he was twisting his wrist so awkwardly that DH and I thought maybe he's lefty.  We asked his Pre-K teacher to try it (we don't have left scissors at home) and she said he cut faster and more accurately with his left than his right.

And it's got me thinking, maybe he IS a lefty.   I'm a righty and my son has been watching me, and now I'm wondering if he writes righty because I do.  (My husband is a natural lefty, but his teachers made him write righty.)

 So at what age did you know if your child is a righty or lefty?

TIA! 

AmyRob04

We suspected when he was 3 and then he settled when he was about 5, which is pretty typical. I'm a righty, Rob's a lefty, so he did watch us both but he figured out what worked best for him. You can also get scissors that aren't specific for righties or lefties - I got them in either Target or Office Depot, not sure which. When he was going back and forth I tried not to put stuff like scissors in his hand, I just put them down on the table and he picked it up with what felt right. maybe try that with the crayons, just let him choose.

oct11bride03

Even though people say you can't tell for sure until they're 5, we are 99% sure K is a lefty. She eats with that hand, uses a crayon with that hand, etc. It's been that way for as long as she's been using her hands to do things. It's rare that she uses her right hand. If she starts something with her right hand, she'll naturally transition to her left. 

I'll fall over in shock if she ends up being a righty.

frizz76

Developmentally, my son was always stronger with his left hand (throwing, stacking, using utensils etc) so by age 2, we thought he might be a lefty. We just went with it because he was more comfortable that way. He would try his right sometimes but would always go back to his left. He is 5 now and definitely a lefty. 

Azureina

AmyRob04:

You can also get scissors that aren't specific for righties or lefties - I got them in either Target or Office Depot, not sure which. When he was going back and forth I tried not to put stuff like scissors in his hand, I just put them down on the table and he picked it up with what felt right. maybe try that with the crayons, just let him choose.

I just picked up a pair like that at AC Moore this weekend.  And we'll make more of a conscience effort to not put those objects in his hand, but left him pick them up himself.

He eats righty and says he feels most comfortable writing righty, although he can do it lefty.

When it comes to sports, he seems to be a bit more ambidextrous.  He kicks righty but bats lefty.  When it comes to throwing a ball he'll use either hand.  With one he is more accurate, but with the other he can throw it further.

MrsDB

My daughter has always used her left hand, since she first picked up a crayon. Which hand does he WANT to use? is he using his right because he was basically told/taught that way? 

Notwifezilla7

Stand behind your child and call his name. Most children naturally turn towards the side they prefer. 

Usually dominance is established around 3 1/2- 4years.