Right-handers and left-handers – How does that happen?

Functional asymmetry: In almost all people one of the two hands is dominant, i.e. it is preferred for all hand movements. This dominance is innate and is referred to as functional asymmetry, because the main nerve tracts of one side of the body are connected to the opposite hemisphere of the brain: It has long been known that in right-handers the left hemisphere of the brain is more active, and in left-handers correspondingly the right.

Innate handedness: Estimates assume that 10 – 15 percent of all people are left-handed. Especially in the older generation, many innate left-handers were raised to be right-handed. Fortunately, forced retraining to the right hand no longer occurs in today’s upbringing, since the left hand has long lost its reputation as the 'bad hand'. Studies have also shown that left-handers who are retrained to be right-handed more often suffer from reading and spelling difficulties and concentration disorders.

For a good start at school

At the start of primary school it should be clear whether your child is right-handed or left-handed. Because writing with the 'innate' writing hand is directly linked to learning success. Left-handed children who, perhaps out of ignorance, learn to write with their right hand sometimes have great difficulty later readapting to the left hand. For most children, left- or right-handedness is sufficiently developed by primary school age that parents and teachers know and can deal with it accordingly.

How to make everyday life easier for your left-handed child

Especially right-handed parents can pay attention to their own behavior to make everyday life easier for their left-handed child. For example, when setting the table they can place their child's fork on the right side of the plate, or hand toys and objects into the center of the body instead of deliberately to the right side. In addition, there are some special left-handed products that help the child develop motor skills without frustration.

• Scissors are one of the biggest challenges for left-handers. Stationery stores also sell children's scissors for left-handers

• Left-handed fountain pens are a great help from primary school onwards

• A left-handed pencil sharpener makes drawing and crafts easier in kindergarten; in primary school it should be in the pencil case

• With a left-handed paring knife the child can help independently in the kitchen

Image credits:

Child draws on a white sheet of paper © K.-U. Häßler - stock.adobe.com