How unusual is it for a 3yo to know left and right?

[SleepRefugee]

Just that really. My DD has known left from right since around her 3rd birthday. Apparently (according to SIL and another mum I know), she can't know this and is just a lucky guesser.
Really? I know she has mastered this but don't want to get into any silly oneupmanship nonsense, so thought I'd tap into people's experiences on here!

[pookamoo]

I'm 35 and still get it wrong.

[fuzzpig]

I think it's one of those things that some children just 'get' earlier than others, like recognising letters/numbers. DD was 3 when she overtook me on getting L/R correct , but DS is 4 and doesn't get it at all.

They're being jealous daft to insist your DD can't know it.

[RedHatNoDrawers]

DS1 is 3 and gets it right most of the time, has done since probably about the same age as yours.

[JuniperTisane]

Well, DS1 is 3.7 and can't tell left from right but neither can I and I'm 37 so perhaps its genetic? Actually I don't think DS1 even has any concept of left or right yet.

[Cupid5tunt]

My daughter isn't 3 yet and knows left from right (most of the time). I've always said left foot right foot/arm when getting her dressed and have just put it down to that.

Don't think it's that unusual either, I know a few kids who do around the same age.

[CrazyOldCatLady]

DD knew at 2. I wouldn't see 3 as that unusual? They are all vastly different though!

[BurdenedWithGloriousPurpose]

Neither of mine knew at 3, I'd be quite impressed with that.

My 6 year old is still learning though gets it mostly right nowadays.

[myitchybeaver]

My DS and DD1 knew at 3 but DD2 wouldn't have a Scooby.
I've always found the rhyme (if you are right handed!) "you write with your right" helps children and so as soon as my DCs started using a pencil they picked it up.

Like all things some kids pick things up early and others late. My DS knew the geography of the town we live in (from a car) at 18 months. He knew what was round the next corner etc. My 6 year old (much brighter) DD still has useless navigational skills!

[jimblejambles]

Ds2 knew his left and right at 3 although he appears to have forgotten which is which now he is 6

[littleredsquirrel]

Mine knew in the same way as itchybeaver describes. We say "you write with your right hand" and so they knew from age 2-3 when they were first writing.

[myitchybeaver]

Just thinking about it, I use the words left and right often in conversation as in 'put your left foot in there' or show me your right thumb' etc. Maybe some parents don't? It hardly matters though.

I am still rubbish and have to actually still imagine my right hand to get which is 'right'.

In my job I have to insert cannulas (drips) in to people's arms/hands. When I first started doing it a patient complained about me to my boss. They said they had no confidence in a member of staff delivering their treatment when they still couldn't even tell their left from right
I remember I had hesitated when the patient had said please put it in my left and they must have sense my momentary confusion

It's a bit like the alphabet, when looking through a phone book I have to say the alphabet out loud to remember which letter goes where

I have such a responsible job too!

[unintentionalthreadkiller]

DTs know it at 2.8 but only because of 1,2,3,4,5...this little finger on my right.

[RedandChecker]

I always get it wrong however DS has known it since three, I think they taught him it at nursery and as their minds are like sponges just picked it up quickly and didn't forget !

I was shit on my driving rest when they would say go right and is indicate left!!!

[Tory79]

Ds is 2.5 and gets it right 90% of the time - dh made a big effort to drum it in to him as I'm so rubbish with my left and right!

[odyssey2001]

Mine got it around his third birthday. He is better at it than me as I get mine muddled all the time.

[RubyrooUK]

My DS has known this since before he was three. I think he knew it at 2 or so. He has always been pretty accurate and loves telling me if something is on the left or right (I have crap directional ability so can claim no responsibility for this ability. Just something that interests him, I guess.)

[SleepRefugee]

Thanks everyone.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

My 3 year old can do it. Better than I can actually, which is scary.

[RubyrooUK]

I'd like to point out at this point Sleep that although he knows right and left, DS still can't actually put on his own shoes. Or figure out how to take his top off. So I'm not entering him for genius school.

[SleepRefugee]

Thanks, Ruby

My DD seems bright in some areas - I know that this is no indicator of future success or happiness, so I tend to keep quiet about these things IRL. Although none of her same-age friends seem to know left from right, I didn't think it marked her out as a genius by any stretch!
Thanks again everyone for your responses.

[BeCool]

Dd2 is currently obsessed with left and right. She is nearly 3.

[Poughle]

I remember still having trouble at 5, but ds1 usually gets it and he's not 3 yet. He learned from the GPS mostly... He would copy her when she said "turn left" etc... And he asks about it all the time. Don't think it indicates anything one way or the other

[LackaDAISYcal]

My DC were good with L and R aged 2-4 as DH used to drill them on their way to nursery and preschool. Now, at 6 and 5 and walked to school by me (who gets it wrong most days) their knowledge isn't so good

[NinjaLeprechaun]

I've always found the rhyme (if you are right handed!) "you write with your right" helps
A friend of mine taught me that when I was a child, not realizing that it didn't work for those of us who are left-handed, and it confused me for years.
I still have to stop and think about it.
For those who know their letters, the thumb and pointer finger of your left hand make an "L" when you hold them out in front of you.