Why are some people right-handed while others are left-handed?

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When someone is “right-handed” or “left-handed,” it means that person does the majority of their activities with that specific hand, such as writing, eating, brushing their teeth, cutting with scissors, and even just simple things like reaching into their pocket to look for some change! Some people do these things with both hands or either hand, but most people do the majority of these things with either their right or left hand, and not both.

Most people in the world are right handed – only about 10-15% are lefties! Scientists don’t know the exact reasons why so many people use their right while a smaller number of others use their left, but there are a lot of ideas about factors that contribute to it.

One very likely contributor is genetics, which refers to things you inherit from your parents, like hair color and eye color. Another likely factor is the environment. Have you ever noticed how many things are made for righties? Try using some scissors with your left hand. – Not so easy! We might be influenced to pick the hand we use based on what our surroundings make convenient! 

Hand it over!

Which hand do you use to do most of your activities, your right or your left? What about your parents and other family members?

Try doing a few things with the hand you don't normally use and see what it feels like! Are you good at writing your name with the opposite hand, or does it feel really strange? What about picking up your toys – is it strange to do that with the opposite hand??