Research-backed
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Did you know that close to ninety-nine percent of the world’s populace is either left-handed or right-handed? This essentially means that if your child is ambidextrous, then the little one pretty much falls in that one percent bracket of unique people who can use both their hands to perform various tasks. Translation — your child is unique! Although not a cause for concern, parents do worry if their child turns out to be ambidextrous. However, you can be rest assured that there is nothing wrong with your child; and that your kids will lead an everyday life like the others. There may be a few noteworthy changes, though! Read on to learn more about this:
- They Might Get Distracted Easily
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Ambidextrous children have a greater likelihood of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. An interesting study was conducted on ambidextrous children. The results at the end of the research went on to say that mixed-handed or ambidextrous children were more likely to have a few language or academic difficulties in their childhood. The study also noted that these difficulties might lapse into their adolescence as well (1).
This is enough to get you worried, but here is some good news — give them the support they need right from the start. If you notice that your child is a tad bit slow when it comes to certain activities, encourage them to do better and help them with it.
- They Perceive Things Differently
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Each of us perceives things differently, but ambidextrous people tend to take this to a whole other level. Studies have shown that mixed-handed people have a higher likelihood of synesthesia (2). This is a peculiar condition where an individual experiences a particular stimulus, but instead of experiencing a reaction to that specific stimulus, a different response is stimulated (3). For example, ambidextrous people have shared that they can ‘smell’ a certain fragrance when someone says a particular word, or they can ‘taste’ a specific food when someone touches them on the arm. Interesting, isn’t it?
- You Need To Keep Up With Their Ever Changing Moods
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If your child is ambidextrous, you might have to deal with a bunch of different mood swings on a daily basis! A group of researchers conducted a study on mixed-handers. This was to observe how smoothly they transition into different moods based on the environment that surrounds them. During the experiment, the participants were asked to think of various thoughts that induced certain emotions, such as happiness, sadness, or anxiety. This was to be done while listening to classical music. The experiment was conducted on both right-handed participants and ambidextrous participants. By the end of the study, it was concluded that the ambidextrous participants switched moods more often than the right-handed participants (4).
- They Are Quick Learners
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The thing about ambidextrous kids is that they do not have a dominant hemisphere in the brain, unlike most other kids. This kind of works in their favor when it comes to learning. Additionally, it also plays a crucial role in the way they think. Their thought process is so much more versatile, as opposed to their left-handed and right-handed counterparts. You’ll see that your kid is probably more open-minded than most kids at that age (5).
- They’re Highly Creative
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You might want to keep an eye on how creative your ambidextrous kid can get because the chances are that you will be surprised. Ambidextrous children have shown a higher level of creativity than left-handed and right-handed kids of the same age (6). Many children who are mixed-handers have shown an affinity for sports, music, and other art forms. It goes without saying that they excel in these interests as well!
You might be worried if your child is ambidextrous, but this is not a cause for concern. Your child might be slightly different from most, but then again, every child is different. The best way to help your ambidextrous child is to encourage them to do things in their own unique way. Help them in their early development stage as and when they need your help. Is your little one ambidextrous? What have you observed so far? Let us know in the comments below!
