When did your child so a preference for left / right hand?

[waitingforbedtime]

ds is 3y6m, he still uses his left and right hands for painting etc.

He possibly uses his left hand slightly more but not sure.

When do they usually show a preference one way?

Not sure, but DD is 4 and stalk uses both and her nursery teacher commented on it last week so maybe it's not usual at that age.

Still uses

Should add that she's only just turned 4.

can;t remember, but have read watch them climb stairs - the foot they lead with shows the dominance...(I was convinced ds would be a leftie, but he leads with his right and is right handed now...)

My DD was around 3 and a half, but I remember my brother being 6 or so before it became clear he was a lefty.

My DS is 2.1 and has a DEF preference for his right hand.

But, I've been watching with interest - and giving him lots of support cos both my sister and I are lefties!!!

Interesting re the stairs thing - will try that tomorrow. Thanks

My DS (just 5) is still swapping hands when writing. There is no clear difference in quality between L & R so far. His teachers have told me that he is the only child in the class doing this - all the other children have a clear preference. I certainly wouldn't worry yet though.

DD was definitely left handed before she was 2. She burnt her left hand badly at 2.3 and had to have a skin graft so couldn't use her hand for about a month. She used her right hand during that time but went straight back to left handed when she could. I have video of her "writing" left handed before her second birthday.

Some people are abidextrous (SP??)

I can still write with both hands. My left hand is neater, as I use that more often but I can write completely legibly with my right hand too.

DS showed a preference for his left right from the first day he attempted to pick something up, and always climbed things with his left foot first and left hand first if grasping things.

Many people with left handed dominance are very ambidexterous though. Don't worry about it, just let him use whichever hand he wants for whatever he wants.

dd1 always preferred her left hand. As a baby, as soon as she gained control over her hands she sucked the fingers on her left hand.

dd2 not quite as clear cut but when she began picking up pens etc (2?) to draw it quickly became obvious she was left handed too.

When DS was 3 months I knew he was left-handed because he always reached for the toys on his bouncer with his left hand.

DD is only 23 months so I guess still time to change- but she's been using her right hand more for a long time. We did baby signing and she would use her right, and ever since she's been holding a spoon/fork, if both hands are free she'll automatically reach for it with her right.

eldest 3 right handed and obvious as a young toddler. dd4 is now left handed but will still colour in ambidexturously at nearly 5!

Settled into being dominant left handed around 4.