Are lefties smarter? Many people think wrong, the truth is…

In our opinion, the habit of using the right hand should be an innate ability and a normal human habit.

However, there are some talented people in life who break the rules and prefer the left hand.

they write with their left hand

Source: soogif

Left-hand cooking

Source: giphy

Left-handed play

Source: soogif

Do you feel like a black iron every time you see their actions?

Actually, there are embarrassments in the king’s life, such as:

When shaking hands with someone—

Source: Internet

When eating western food—

Source: Internet

1. How is left-handedness formed?

There are different “versions” of what causes left-handedness.

Research from genetics shows that the development of left-handedness is controlled by genes. As for whether it is related to a gene called LRRTMI or the whole gene, there is no clear conclusion [1].

However, data from a survey of left-handed households shows that left-handed parents, especially both left-handed, are indeed more likely to have children left-handed than right-handed parents. High, the probability is as high as 26% [2].

However, current data shows that only one-quarter of left-handed people are affected by genetic factors, and the remaining three-quarters are actually more closely related to the acquired living environment and hand habit. [3].

For example, when a child uses tools or performs other activities for a long time after birth, there is a division of labor between the two hands. When doing some daily necessary activities, such as holding chopsticks, spoons, holding toys and other small objects, when holding a pen, the child may use one of the hands more often, which is called the “dominant hand”.

In addition to the guidance of parents and the strong imitation ability of children, they are all important factors that lead to the formation of acquired left-handers.

Some scholars also believe that the hand raised near the mouth during fetal development will become a “sharp hand”. If the raised hand is a left hand, it will be left-handed after birth[4].

Of course, there are also studies that link left-handedness with cerebral hypoxia, birth pressure, maternal age and other factors [5].

In short, there are many theories about the cause of left-handedness. The mainstream view is that it is caused by the combined effect of genetic and acquired environmental factors, but there is no clear and unified conclusion yet.

Second, is left-handedness bad for children?

“Is your child left-handed? What a hassle going to school in the future!”

“Let’s change it while the kids are young!”

“I was left-handed when I was young, and I was beaten once when I wrote with my left hand.

Although they are very envious of left-handed people’s “god manipulation” on weekdays and feel that they are talented, but parents often feel uneasy when they hear comments from relatives and friends:

Would being left-handed go against a child’s normal growth trajectory?

Most tools in life are designed according to the habit of the right hand, will it bring inconvenience to children?

Will I be ridiculed or excluded from other children and affect my mental health?

Third, is left-handedness really bad for babies?

Of course not!

The so-called left-handed and right-handed people are actually just a handedness habit formed by each person’s long-term life, and the current research has not found left-handed or right-handed people. There are large differences.

Also, the claim that “left-handed people have higher IQs” is believed by many, but it’s a beautiful lie!

A large population study involving more than 60,000 people showed that the difference in IQ between left-handed and right-handed people is almost negligible [6]. So, stop saying lefties or righties are smarter.

Image source: Zhanku Hailuo

Four, how to deal with “little lefties” at home

1. Go with the flow, don’t force corrections

Habits are not formed in a day or two, nor can they be broken in a day. If parents continue to force the baby to use the right hand, not only will it fail to achieve the expected purpose, but it will cause harm and frustration to the baby, thereby reducing the child’s enthusiasm for hands-on and even reversal.

Therefore, the best way is to conform to the nature of children, believe them, the left hand is no worse than the right hand, and the ability to write and learn is the same as when eating.

2. Treat children with respect and consideration

Children who are left-handed don’t actually think there is anything wrong with them.

However, when he finds himself different from the people around him, he can be confused, and his young mind is vulnerable if he is laughed at.

If the parents do not give proper understanding at this time, but instead accuse the child, the child’s psychology will be severely damaged.

Therefore, parents should give their children enough consideration and care and tell him:

“Baby can use left hand to hold things, mother can’t, you are amazing!”

“Children laugh at you because they don’t know that the left hand and the right hand can be used to hold chopsticks and objects!”

3. Create a “left-handed” environment for your baby

Parents should take the initiative to create a good “left-handed” environment for apparently left-handed babies. For example:

When eating, leave room for your baby to eat with his left hand;

When arranging the room for the baby, put toys, bookshelves and other items on the left hand side as much as possible;

When entering the kindergarten, you can inform the teacher in advance and let the teacher arrange the baby to the left to avoid the collision between the arm and the arms of other children in the classroom, and also reduce other children’s feelings towards left-handed people. misunderstanding, to avoid the baby being snubbed and teased.

In addition, you can usually buy some left-handed items for your baby, such as left-handed children’s scissors, etc., which are convenient for your baby to use.

4. Find opportunities to move the right hand appropriately

The human brain is divided into left and right parts. The left brain mainly controls the right half of the body, while the right brain mainly controls the left half of the body. Parents of left-handed babies can guide their babies to learn to do things with their right hands, while for babies who are accustomed to using their right hands, their mothers can also guide their babies to learn to use their left hands, thereby promoting brain development [7].

For example, when the baby eats, you can encourage your baby more, “If the baby can hold chopsticks in both hands, it will be even more powerful. Do you want to try it?”

Image source: Zhanku Hailuo

In short, left-handers are neither synonymous with “prodigies”, nor will they have an impact on their children’s future life and learning, so parents don’t have to worry too much.

We are all unique and unique individuals, and being left-handed is like a gift from God to a child. Recognizing and appreciating the “differentness” of children can make children grow up healthily.