Who is an Ambidextrous child - developmental features

Ambidextrous – who is it?

The term ambidexterity became known in the Middle Ages, as it was used to describe warriors who fought with equal skill with both their left and right hands.
They were highly valued and received various honors. The uniqueness of such people is that both hemispheres of their brain work harmoniously. A person can have both excellent intuition and excellent logical thinking. Ambidextrous people not only write equally well with both hands, but also perform other useful actions in everyday situations, in sports, and in art. Performing various tasks with both hands is a clear advantage. This is how you can determine whether your child is ambidextrous. Scientists note that children with one active hemisphere of the brain are inferior in development to ambidextrous children. Scientists claim that in newborns, both hemispheres of the brain are equally developed. By about four years of age, quality is lost - this is due to the influence of the social environment. Parents put a pencil in the child's right hand, teach them to hold a spoon with their right hand, more developing the left hemisphere, which is responsible for logic - raising a performer without creativity.

People with harmoniously developed brain hemispheres are very talented. The world knows ambidextrous people: Tom Cruise, Nikola Tesla, Benjamin Franklin, Paul McCartney. Let's remember the great artist Leonardo da Vinci, linguist and dictionary author Vladimir Dahl.

Scientists and neuroscientists say that the human brain develops up to the age of sixty. A clear separation between the hemispheres is observed until the age of fifty, and in the sixth decade they can easily be used simultaneously. This allows a mature person to make difficult decisions more successfully than younger people.

Tips for raising a future genius

To make an ambidextrous child, you need to start with something simple - try to do daily activities with your non-dominant hand. It is very difficult to develop fine motor skills in an adult. The so-called mental flexibility that children have disappears. But you can try. You need to go the way of a preschooler who is engaged in positioning his hand to write. You just need to bet with a weak hand. There are special copybooks for left-handers, but attention needs to be paid not only to alphabetic ones, but also to those in which you need to repeat a certain pattern. Fine motor skills are well developed by constructors like Lego, but you need to perform most of the actions with your weak hand, and also do the whole routine well with your non-dominant hand - washing dishes and petting the cat, brushing your teeth and holding an apple. Motor skills training, the development of your non-dominant hemisphere, speeds up the overall functioning of the brain, the reaction becomes faster. True, at first the effect of training will be completely opposite, because the brain is under a very heavy load - at the beginning there will be difficulties with concentration and speed of thinking, but as soon as the brain gets used to it, it will begin to work faster and more efficiently.

Features of the development of an ambidextrous child

Ambidextrous children have their own characteristics that can and should be developed. You can learn ambidexterity – it’s a matter of training. Change your habits, write with your left hand instead of your right, hang your bag on your right shoulder if you usually use your left, and so on. Change your usual routes from home to work, from work to the store. A great exercise for developing both hemispheres of the brain: take pencils in both hands and take turns drawing geometric shapes on a sheet of paper. For example, with the left you draw a square, with the right a circle, then with the left a rhombus, with the right a polygon and so on. Make the exercise more difficult and very soon you will notice how quickly you can cope with the task.

You can develop both hemispheres of the brain using the “Mental Arithmetic” technique. Both children and adults can take the course. Scientists have proven that the brain develops maximally with the help of calculations. Numbers are a kind of brain trainer. “Mental Arithmetic” consists of several levels. First, students learn to add and subtract on an abacus abacus by moving the bones with both hands, then they continue to do the same only mentally, imagining the abacus in their minds. As a result of regular training, students are able to perform 99 actions with single-digit numbers in 0.1 seconds, outpacing the speed of a calculator. These are the average indicators of those trained in mental arithmetic. You can master the technique at the AMAKids Academy for the Development of Intelligence. The founder of AMAKids, Vladimir Fedyai, adapted the classic course to the mentality of modern children. The method does not contradict the school curriculum and is based on a game approach to learning, and complex solutions provide guaranteed results. AMAkids students perform two actions simultaneously after just a month of training. For example, they count mentally and sing a song.

What is ambidexterity?

Ambidexterity (from Latin ambi - “both” and Latin dexter - “right”) - equal development of the functions of both hands, without highlighting the leading hand, the ability to perform actions with the right and left hands with the same speed and efficiency. It can be congenital or acquired deliberately through special training.

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Let’s say right away: all people are born ambidextrous, and only by about 4 years of age does a child decide on a dominant hand.

Why is this happening? The fact is that it is at this age that asymmetry of brain structures is formed, and we choose whether to use our right or left hand as the leading one. In right-handed people, a predominance in the development of the left hemisphere, which is responsible for logic, was revealed, in left-handed people - accordingly, the right, intuitive-feeling hemisphere. But ambidextrous people are people with equally and harmoniously developed both hemispheres. It is believed that the coordinated work of intuition and logic gives such people certain advantages over others.

Ambidextrous mental potential

Ambidexterity is not just about arms. This feature determines the absence of a leading system in relation to any organ at all. Ambidextrous people do not have an aiming eye - since both aiming eyes, the pushing leg, have a better hearing ear, like right-handers or left-handers. Their active hemispheres switch from right to left with amazing speed, almost instantly. And the combination of subtle intuition and clear logic helps the ambidextrous person to very quickly grasp the essence of events and analyze information literally in a split second - and this, of course, is a plus. However, if you think about it, for the most part we try to separate feelings from reason - it’s easier there, but it’s almost impossible for an ambidextrous person to do this, as a result he experiences serious nervous overload. And this is a minus.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are mixed opinions about the pros and cons of ambidexterity. Of course, a huge advantage is that such a child has ample opportunities for development.

But ambidexterity in itself is not a guarantee of achieving any success. It all depends on the efforts that a particular person will make, as well as on his abilities.

Of course, all other things being equal, two people who have similar starting opportunities and put in the same amount of effort have a greater chance of success for an ambidexter. And in absolutely any field of activity.

A striking example is their achievements in sports. People who are equally successful with both hands have an absolute advantage over their opponents. For example, a tennis player can serve with both hands, a football player can strike with both feet, each time keeping the opponent guessing, without giving him the opportunity to prepare to parry the serve or strike.

The same can be said about drawing or music. A person who writes with both hands has undeniable advantages when solving intellectual problems. His brain easily switches from one hemisphere to the other. Therefore, he has a greater chance of finding a non-standard solution to some non-standard intellectual problem.

In the course of research, scientists have come to the conclusion that such people have a larger long-term memory capacity than classic right-handers or left-handers.

Moreover, they remember information better and faster. All this gives them undeniable advantages in multitasking conditions.

Flaws

Despite the huge number of advantages, ambidexterity also has negative sides.

Children with this feature often face:

attention deficit disorder;
hyperactivity;
unbalanced emotional background.

Because of this, they are unable to restrain their emotions, being too hot-tempered and impulsive. Finding an explanation for this is not so difficult.

With constant activity of both hemispheres of the brain, the child is not able to disconnect from experiences and emotions. This is necessary to analyze the situation soberly, calmly and logically. The inability to do this leads to the following consequences.

Parents must remember that it is necessary to help a child who finds himself in this situation. Only together will we be able to find solutions to cope with such conditions, learn how to quickly solve them. This skill will be useful to your child in adulthood.

How to properly raise an ambidextrous person?

The main difficulty faced by the mother and father of an ambidextrous child is his hyperactivity. There is no point in shouting at him and calling for calm. You need to try to keep it in sight and direct the crazy energy of the baby to something useful. Over time, the baby will learn self-control.

An ambidextrous child learns new material better, so he may be bored in kindergarten or school. An additional task will help parents and teachers here: make him not only draw a picture, but also come up with an interesting story for it. An ambidextrous person is a multitasking person.

When a child is excited or upset, you need to maintain a calm and even tone and avoid conflict. Your patience is a great indicator of how you can handle your emotions.

And, of course, never insist or put pressure on your child when choosing a leading hand. Help him, support him in word and deed, but there is no need to retrain him. It’s better to listen to your child: his unusual vision will open up new features of the world around you.

Material on working with ambidextrous children.

SPEECH AT MO

PRIMARY TEACHERS

STEPANOVA A.O.

“Children are ambidextrous within the lesson. Ways of interaction."

Children are ambidexters

Often, parents, after observing their baby, are surprised to note that he uses his right and left hands equally skillfully. If you encounter this, then there is a high probability that the child is ambidextrous.

In fact, there are not so few of them in the world. According to statistics, only 45% of the world's inhabitants are right-handed. For another 10%, the leading hand is the left. All the rest, that is, another 45% of people use both hands with equal success. Depending on the action they perform, they use their right or left hand.

Definition of the concept

The term ambidexterity comes from the Latin words meaning “both” and “right”. With this concept, scientists designate the equal development of the functions of both hands, when neither of them becomes the dominant one in a person. This is the ability to perform actions with the same efficiency and speed with the right and left hands.

Ambidexterity can be congenital; some achieve it through training. It is important to understand that all babies are born ambidextrous. The baby is determined to have a dominant hand at approximately four years of age. This does not happen earlier, since only at 4 years old does a child develop asymmetry of brain structures. Then the choice occurs which hand will be the main one.

Right-handers have a better developed left hemisphere. It is responsible for logic. Left-handed people are considered creative people, since they are dominated by the right hemisphere, which is responsible for feelings and intuition.

Defining who ambidextrous is, scientists note that this is a person whose both hemispheres are equally harmoniously developed. Due to the coordinated work of logic and intuition, such people have certain advantages over others.

Ambidextrous abilities

Looking at these pictures, an ordinary person sees rotating points in a sphere in a certain direction. With some effort you can change direction, but this effect will not last long. For ambidexters, the direction will change by itself alternately.

The picture with the cat is more ambiguous. An ordinary person cannot change the direction of its rotation. Only a person with the beginnings of ambidextrous abilities can turn a cat in the other direction. According to the results of a five-year study conducted at Yale University, if a person can change the direction of a cat's rotation without straining his eyes too much, then these people have an IQ above 160.

This is explained by the change in the functioning of different hemispheres of the brain. The perception of pictures by different areas affects the visual picture. With the help of these pictures you can check the presence of ambidextrous abilities in adults.

How to recognize an ambidextrous child

The first signs of ambidexterity appear at about 3-4 years of age.

The baby uses his right and left hands equally successfully.
Easily transfers toys from one hand to another without paying attention to it.
Handles cutlery, mugs, plates, sometimes with one hand, sometimes with the other.

These are points that may indicate ambidexterity, but it is possible to establish for sure that a child is neither right-handed nor left-handed only when he learns to write. This is one of the most difficult skills a person masters in the first years of his life. That's why they give it such importance.

A child is considered right-handed and left-handed at the same time if, at the request of a parent or teacher, he can easily switch from his right hand to his left and vice versa. He begins to draw and write with equal success.

Test to help

Parents can come across a large number of tests and advice on how to recognize ambidexterity in their child. The most accurate test for ambidexterity is recommended when the baby can write. In this case, you will unmistakably know the answer.

Ask your child to hold a pencil or pen in each hand. Let him try to write the same word several times with both hands at the same time.

Do not pay attention to which direction the tilt will be. If, a few minutes after the start of training, he does it simply and easily with both his right and left hands, it means he has the makings of ambidexterity.

When we talk about ambidexterity, we often forget that this condition relates not only to which hand the child writes with. This feature indicates that there is no leading system for all organs without exception. For example, such people have both eyes that are aimed. There is no better ear or better foot. All these are signs inherent in right-handers and left-handers.

In an ambidexter, the hemispheres of the brain actively switch from one to the other. All this happens at lightning speed, almost instantly. The combination of clear logic and amazing intuition allows such people to quickly grasp the essence of events and analyze information in almost a split second. While most people involuntarily separate mind and feelings, it is almost impossible for an ambidextrous person to do this. Because of this, from time to time he experiences serious psychological overload. This must be taken into account, paying special attention to children with such characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are mixed opinions about the pros and cons of ambidexterity. Of course, a huge advantage is that such a child has ample opportunities for development.

But ambidexterity in itself is not a guarantee of achieving any success. It all depends on the efforts that a particular person will make, as well as on his abilities. A study of 8,000 children aged 7 and 8 years found that 87 mixed-handed students showed greater difficulties in language skills, and at ages 15 and 16 the same students showed a greater risk of ADHD symptoms. and showed lower academic achievements than right- and left-handed students. Ambidextrous people are easily angered. These are the results of a study from Merrimack College, which indicates increased interconnectivity of the brain hemispheres, which was found in ambidextrous people and left-handers. A subsequent study found that increased hemispheric connectivity correlated with increased awkwardness, clumsiness, and mood swings.

In the course of research, scientists have come to the conclusion that such people have a larger long-term memory capacity than classic right-handers or left-handers.

Moreover, they remember information better and faster. All this gives them undeniable advantages in multitasking conditions.

Flaws

Despite the huge number of advantages, ambidexterity also has negative sides.

Children with this feature often face:

attention deficit disorder;
hyperactivity;
unbalanced emotional background.

Because of this, they are unable to restrain their emotions, being too hot-tempered and impulsive. Finding an explanation for this is not so difficult.

Parenting Tips

The main problem that parents of such a child face is his hyperactivity. Urging him to be more calm and scolding him is completely pointless. The only thing you can do is try to keep him in your field of vision, directing the baby's excess energy in a positive and safe direction.

Help your child learn to control himself. If you approach solving the problem with all seriousness, you will be able to do this in a short time. It is worth remembering that such a child perceives and absorbs information faster than his peers. Because of this, he quickly becomes bored in kindergarten and school lessons. Experienced teachers solve such problems by giving ambidextrous children additional tasks. For example, if everyone in the group is making an applique, then he will also be tasked with counting how many parts will be used in the craft. Ambidextrous people are good at multitasking, so solving such a problem will not be difficult for him.

It is always important for an adult to maintain a calm and even tone, especially in moments when the child is upset or excited about something. If he sees that you are balanced, he will take this as an example to follow. A visual aid on how to learn to cope with your emotions.

Ambidextrous celebrities

There are many ambidextrous people among great people.

Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Leo Tolstoy, Paul McCartney, Vladimir Dal, Andrei Sakharov.

Conclusion

You should never put pressure on a child when he determines which hand will be the leading one. You can advise, help, try with him, but don’t force him to go against his essence, don’t retrain him. Instead, listen to him. His non-standard vision can open up new unknown sides in the surrounding reality for a parent.