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Effects of children using their non-dominant hand

rose @ January 6, 2009

  • I would like to know if there are any effects on children who's parents have made them use their non-dominant hand, (like children who are born left handed being forced to use their right hand). I am most interested in the short and long term psychological effects. Some supplemental information on things like physical effects would also be useful. Weblinks are important, and a simple summary of what was found out would be enough. Thanks.


  • I think it depends entirely on how children are taught to use their non-dominant hand. If they are told "left is bad" and are punished for using their left hand, then of course this will make them feel badly and they may develop other issues (like stammering). However, if it's taught in a more positive way, then the end results are positive, too. Kristina


  • Thi sis not scientific evidence, of course, but I know three people who were taught to use their non-dominate hand. All three are of different generations. All are now able to use both hands for almost everything, and they see this ability as a positive thing. Kriswrite


  • Hi Albino, For what my observation is worth, I recall a left-handed girl in primary school. OK, late '60's. Her mother would come to the classroom to oversee that she was forced to write right-handedly. This would not be allowed nowadays of course. Even as a kid, I wondered why it was allowed then. With respect to the other posters here, I felt for that kid. Imagine being the odd-one out, being seen as different in a "bad" way, when in fact many left-handers and naturally ambidextrous people are quite talented. Then your Mother enters the room !!!! in front of a room full of kids. I reckon this served more damage than good by the way it was carried out. I hope that girl has excelled beyond her Mother's narrow thoughts.


  • There are books by Dr Margaret Clark and Dr Stanley Coren about left handedness, which address your question. The Clark book dates from the 1970s and the Coren is later. One potentail problem is that left-handers who are forced to use their right hands are at risk of developing a stammer. King George VI was an example of this. He was clearly lefthanded - he used his left hand to play tennis at the Wimbledon doubles tournament in his youth - but was forced to write with his right hand.


  • Not exactly the scientific research you were looking for, but..... I was "born" left-handed, but was trained by my immigrant parents to use my right hand only (they have said it was viewed that only ignorant people were left handed!). Like kriswrite commented, I can use both hands for most everything, although I still favor my right hand. It was most noticable in sports, where I could switch-hit on my softball team and my golf game is pretty good as a right handed golfer since my left hand was strong as well. I too view it as a positive attribute, although my handwriting is quite sloppy. Now, my husband will tell you all this handedness stuff has made my indecisive and crazed at times, but I think he's just jealous because I can almost beat hime in golf.... happytobeme


  • A girl in my class (when I was a boy) is a lefty who was forced to learn to write with her right hand. Then, later, a different teacher forced her to write with her left hand. She now writes upside down.







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