Kamal Ghorui
When a child scribbles on paper, many parents instinctively focus on the hand he or she is using. “Why is my child using his left hand?”; such thoughts come to their mind, not because of scientific explanations, but because “right-handedness” is considered the conventional norm. Some parents think about changing the child’s preferred way, while others forcibly do so. However, does it even matter if the child is right-handed or left-handed? Is there any evidence that one outperforms the other, or is it just a mere preference that has nothing to do with the child’s future milestones?
Why left handedness is considered different
More than reasons, the concern is built around myths. Since the majority of people are right-handed, parents tend to feel that a left-handed child may feel left out or even struggle with writing and daily tasks in the future. Many times society reinforces this perception. Relatives may suggest that the child should be “trained” to use the right hand, believing it will make life easier or more socially acceptable.
It’s different but not deficient, says science
Modern research shows that handedness is linked to “brain lateralisation,” this means that certain functions are naturally dominant in one hemisphere of the brain. In broader terms, large-scale studies comparing cognitive abilities, academic performance, and skill development have consistently found no disadvantage for left-handed individuals.
This is what experts say about left-handedness
According to Dr. Arif Khan, a Dubai based pediatric neurologist, forcing a child to switch hands can create confusion in the system. This may affect writing, coordination and sometimes even learning, attention and confidence. Dr. Arif’s short answer is; No, you shouldn’t change your child’s left-handedness. For parents who are concerned that their child would fall behind in life solely because they are left-handed, here’s a list of some of the world’s most successful people who are left-handed. The names indeed come from all sorts of fields, including politics, technology, arts, and sports. Famous lefties include Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Sachin Tendulkar, Rafael Nadal, and Justin Bieber.
What parents can do for their left-handed child
Now that the science is clear, the next step for parents is to understand that the needs of their left-handed child will be different from the one using their right hand. Pediatric neurologist Dr. Arif says instead of correcting the child, parents should provide the right tools, and let them develop naturally. Some of these tools can be smudge-resistant pens or quick-dry ink, left-handed scissors. Sometimes desk positioning in classrooms is also an issue. Parents should always communicate with their child about the specific problem they’re facing.Perhaps the most important “tool” is not physical at all, it is awareness.
