Observation Checklist for Hand Preference

Observation Checklist for Hand Preference

Year Level: Early Years, Foundation

Help your students establish a dominant hand.

Research suggests that the majority of children show a hand preference by 3 years of age, however, some children actually establish dominance as late as 8 or 9 years old. Making a preference is important as it allows the child to develop skill and endurance with that hand.

If a child has not yet made a preference by the Foundation Year, it is suggested that the child is encouraged to participate in activities that involve:

  • crossing the midline
  • activities using both hands together
  • activities were both are active and others where one hand does the work and the other helps

If you would like to help your students establish a dominant hand, download this handy checklist or read additional tips here on our blog: https://pld-literacy.org/product/observation-checklist-for-hand-preference/

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