Why you should encourage your child to use both hands​

As parents and educators, we often encourage children to develop their dominant hand or favor one hand over the other. This preference is known as hand dominance, and it typically develops around the age of 3 or 4. But what if we told you that there are benefits to encouraging children to use both hands? Ambidexterity, or the ability to use both hands equally, has several benefits that can help children in their development and throughout their lives.

Dr. Atchara Venkatraman, Founder of Bump2cradle and Child Development consultant says, Using both hands can improve the connectivity between the two sides of the brain. Right brain’s main function is development in photographic memory, creativity, and emotional intelligence/ reading emotions. Left brain functions include analytical thinking, logical thinking, improvement in concentration, numerical abilities and language orientation.”

As many children write with their right hand in this case the left brain will be activated and while we use the left hand, the right brain will be activated. In order to achieve all these characteristics, we must use both the brains simultaneously. That is, we need to encourage the kids to hold a pencil in both the hands and scribble on a paper and make them work with both the hands to activate the characteristics of each brain.

Using both hands equally can help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Ambidextrous children may also have better reaction times and be more coordinated in sports and other physical activities. By encouraging children to use both hands, we can help them develop their physical abilities and be more successful in a range of activities.

“Ambidextrous children may be more confident and capable of completing tasks on their own. By teaching children to use both hands, we can help them develop a sense of independence and self-reliance that can serve them well throughout their lives,” says Dr. Venkatraman.

Adaptability is a valuable skill in today's rapidly changing world. Ambidextrous children may find it easier to adjust to new situations, as they are already comfortable using both hands. By encouraging children to use both hands, we can help them develop the flexibility and adaptability they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.

Encouraging children to use both hands can have a range of benefits that can help them in their development and throughout their lives. By teaching children to use both hands, we can help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. So, start encouraging your children to use both hands and see the benefits that ambidexterity can bring, suggests Dr. Venkatraman.