Which Hand?

When you give her an object, don't go towards one hand or the other. Let her decide which hand to take it with.

When he falls down what hand/foot goes out first to block the fall? When he goes up steps which foot does he step first with, when opening a door which hand? If he changes frequently then he is just not feeling that right/left hand difference or need to be dominant on one side or the other.

I say just let him have the objects and if he uses both hands that is not a bad thing. Being able to use both can only be an asset.

When you are working with her, put the pencill in front of her and ask her to pick it up. Make sure that regardless of what hand she uses, that you get her started with the 'tripod grip'. Her thumb and forefinger should be holding the pencil and her the pencil is 'rested' on the middle finger. If this proper grip is not taught early enough, her printing will be messy later on and it will be hard to write a lot as she gets older.

Good luck!

She's way too young to say that she's ambi. I would second the idea of "playing sports" with her and see which "hand" she uses to throw a ball w/o having to stop and think about it. You could put art supplies in front of her and go with whichever hand she reaches for most often.

Most kids don't completely establish dominance until Kindergarten-ish years.

My youngest was ambidextrous until age 6.

My parents and especially my MIL thought at about age 3 I should make him pick one. But that was too soon.
In Kinderg., my son started his first name with pencil in left hand and wrote last half with right hand. He was the slowest writer in K, and he was a little frustrated that he was the last one to turn papers in.

The Kinder teacher was wonderful! She said he will pick a handedness when his brain is ready to make a selection. She encouraged us not to rush it.
And he finally picked his left for handwriting in first grade. But he can eat with either hand and throws a ball with the right. He kicks with right leg but is left eye dominant in shooting sports.

Our pediatrician always said that is an advantage and shows special ability of the brain and hand eye coordination. Doc said too, in the unfortunate event he ever broke an arm, he wouldn't have to train the other side so hard to take over.

I'm ambi. I function much better than most people do. Don't force her to choose a specific hand over the other. Let her do that on her own, or she may be like me and use whichever one feels better that day :)

Ask her what hand she wants to use when you help her. I think that would be easiest.

may I suggest you find out what leg is her dominant and go from there ... kick a ball towards her and see what foot she uses consistantly and go with that hand. Typically when your body is alligned properly your dominant arm, eye, leg, ear are all on the same side. Hope this helps.

I'm ambidextrous but was encouraged to use the right hand. I can do anything with either but I prefer my right for writing and my left for everything else naturally. I often practice writing with my left to keep my skills up.

I would work with whatever hand she chooses to put the pencil in. My middle child was changed in school and I strongly regret it. She hold the pencil backwards and curves her right hand like a left handed person would do. She also gets confused and writes her letters backwards. Had she been writing with her left hand they would be written correctly. So please let her choose and don't let the teachers do it for her.

She's still young Mine was 4 and a half and I talked to an OT about it. She said watch closely, when she turns a door knob, flushes the toilet, opens a jar, picks up a cup, etc and see if one hand is used a little more. She told me that at 4 1/2 he needed to be practicing using one as the helper hand and one as the dominant hand, that if he didnt choose I should choose for him and that being a rightie was easier (dont hate me lefties)

I had the same issue. Here is what I did (to see which way their brain thought about making letters and such)...

1. Have her draw you a circle. If she goes counter clockwise, then I would teach her to write with her right hand.
IF she goes clockwise, I would teach her to write with her left hand.

R.

I think she is too young for encouragement with either hand. She will choose one when she is older, usually around kindergarten.

My son used both hands and I made the mistake of encouraging him to use his right hand. When he started school the teacher told him to use his right hand. Well now he holds a pencil like a lefty and writes like a lefty, but with his right hand. His handwriting is horrible. It's often barely legible. If I could do it over I would not encourage either hand, but show him the proper way to hold the pencil or whatever no matter which hand he chose to use at the moment. Holding the writing instrument correctly is much more important than which hand is used.