Can You Teach A Child To Be Ambidextrous?

Being ambidextrous—the ability to use both hands with equal skill—is a rare trait that only about 1% of the population naturally possesses. Most people show a dominant hand (either right or left) that they use for tasks like writing, eating, and throwing. However, some parents and educators may wonder if it’s possible to teach a child to be ambidextrous from an early age.

In this article, we’ll explore whether you can teach a child to be ambidextrous, the potential benefits and challenges, and what experts say about encouraging both-handedness in children.

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What Is Ambidexterity?

Ambidexterity refers to the ability to use both hands equally well for tasks that typically favor one hand, such as writing, drawing, or throwing a ball. For most people, one hand—usually the right—is dominant, meaning it’s stronger and more coordinated for fine motor tasks.

Types of Handedness:

Right-handedness: The right hand is dominant (about 90% of people).
Left-handedness: The left hand is dominant (about 10% of people).
Ambidexterity: Both hands are equally proficient (about 1% of people).

Mixed-handedness: A person uses different hands for different tasks, like writing with the right hand but throwing a ball with the left.

Some people are born ambidextrous, while others train themselves to use their non-dominant hand for certain tasks. But is it possible to teach a child to become fully ambidextrous?

Can You Teach a Child to Be Ambidextrous?

Technically, yes, you can train a child to use both hands for various tasks. With practice and persistence, a child can learn to perform certain activities—like writing, drawing, or throwing—with their non-dominant hand. However, teaching a child to be truly ambidextrous, where both hands are equally skilled at all tasks, is much more difficult and may not always be beneficial.

Here’s what to consider if you want to encourage ambidexterity in your child:

1. Neurodevelopment and Hand Dominance

Hand dominance is thought to be hardwired in the brain. By the time a child is 2 to 4 years old, they typically start showing a preference for using their left or right hand. This preference is linked to the lateralization of brain functions—where one hemisphere of the brain becomes more active in controlling specific tasks. For example, the left hemisphere usually controls the right hand and is responsible for language and fine motor skills.

Example: A child who is naturally right-handed may have stronger neural connections in the left hemisphere of their brain, which makes their right hand more coordinated for tasks like writing.

While you can encourage a child to use their non-dominant hand more often, it’s important to understand that forcing them to become ambidextrous may not align with their natural brain development.

2. Fine Motor Skills Development

Learning to use both hands equally requires fine motor skill development in both hands. While it’s possible to strengthen the non-dominant hand through practice, it may take a long time for the child to reach the same level of skill and coordination as their dominant hand.

Example: If a child is naturally left-handed, teaching them to write with their right hand may take months or even years of practice to achieve the same level of proficiency.

Forcing ambidexterity too early, before fine motor skills are fully developed, could lead to frustration and slow down the natural development of the child’s dominant hand.

3. Potential Cognitive Impact

There is some research suggesting that training a child to become ambidextrous, especially if they are not naturally inclined toward it, could have unintended cognitive consequences. Hand dominance is closely linked to brain lateralization, which plays a role in cognitive functions like language development and spatial reasoning.

Example: A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children who were forced to use both hands equally had a slightly higher risk of developmental delays and learning difficulties compared to children who had a clear hand preference.

While more research is needed, it’s important for parents to be cautious about pushing children to use their non-dominant hand for tasks, especially if it causes confusion or discomfort.

4. Practical Benefits of Ambidexterity

That said, there are some practical benefits to encouraging your child to use both hands for certain tasks. Ambidexterity can be useful in activities such as sports, music, and art, where using both hands can improve performance. For example, being able to dribble a basketball with both hands or play a musical instrument with equal skill can give kids an advantage.

Example: In sports like baseball or basketball, players who can use both hands effectively may have an edge over competitors who rely solely on their dominant hand.

Encouraging your child to use their non-dominant hand in these contexts can improve coordination and flexibility without necessarily forcing full ambidexterity.

How to Encourage Ambidexterity (Without Forcing It)

If you’re interested in helping your child develop better coordination and flexibility with both hands, here are some simple ways to encourage ambidexterity without pressuring them to become fully ambidextrous:

1. Incorporate Ambidextrous Activities

Introduce activities that naturally involve using both hands, such as:

Playing a musical instrument (e.g., piano, drums, or guitar).
Playing sports that require both hands, like basketball, baseball, or tennis.
Drawing or painting with both hands.

Playing video games or board games that require using both hands for different tasks.

These activities develop hand-eye coordination and strengthen both hands without creating frustration or discomfort for your child.

2. Encourage Hand-Switching for Simple Tasks

You can encourage your child to use their non-dominant hand for simple, everyday tasks that don’t require fine motor skills. This could include:

Brushing their teeth with their non-dominant hand.
Eating with their non-dominant hand.
Throwing a ball with their non-dominant hand.

These activities help strengthen the non-dominant hand without interfering with important tasks like writing or drawing.

3. Let Your Child Lead

It’s important to observe your child’s natural tendencies and let them take the lead. If your child shows an interest in using both hands, you can encourage it by providing opportunities to practice. However, if your child seems frustrated or uncomfortable, it’s best to respect their natural hand dominance and avoid pushing them to use their non-dominant hand.

Tip: Pay attention to how your child responds to ambidextrous activities. If they seem to enjoy using both hands, you can introduce more activities that involve both hands. If they resist, it’s okay to let them focus on their dominant hand.

4. Focus on Fun and Play

When teaching a child to use both hands, the focus should be on fun and play, not pressure. Incorporate ambidextrous activities into playtime rather than making it a formal exercise. Allow your child to explore and experiment with both hands in a relaxed setting.

Example: Play a game where you ask your child to try drawing a picture first with their dominant hand and then with their non-dominant hand. This encourages them to use both hands in a playful way.

The Bottom Line

While it is possible to train a child to use both hands for certain tasks, becoming truly ambidextrous is rare and may not always be beneficial. Hand dominance is believed to be hardwired in the brain, and forcing a child to become ambidextrous could potentially interfere with their natural development. However, encouraging the use of the non-dominant hand for simple tasks can improve coordination and flexibility without causing confusion or frustration.

Ultimately, the best approach is to support your child’s natural preferences while offering opportunities for them to explore both-handed activities in a fun and stress-free environment.