By age 4, children have developed a dominant hand that they will use for drawing, writing, cutting, throwing, and other tasks. When children switch hands mid-activity, it is a sign of fatigue. By helping students to distinguish between their right and left hands, they will then be better able to identify their dominant hand and helper hand, which minimizes switching.
We have also been reminding children that the hand they use to hold the railing as they go up and down the stairs is their right hand (Walking on the right is also very practical in the world of daily life and courtesy!) One of the interesting things about this way of teaching children to know their right from their left, is that it only teaches the children the right hand. We don't teach them the left hand because if they know which hand is their right hand then, "What's left is the left."
Even if children are left handed, they still need to be able to distinguish between their right and left hands. As children get older, instructions may be given using directionality ("Move to your right." or "Start your writing on the left side of your paper.", or "Raise your right hand.") and knowing quickly and instinctually which direction is which can be very useful.
Learning how to shake hands with your right hand as a friendly greeting is also a great social skill to learn. You might try playing games at home with your child that involve the right hand or having them shake right hands to say hello in greeting people they meet. It has been a fun new way to say goodbye!
