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1. 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Tuesday, 10-Dec-2019 15:28:24 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

   I hold the unpopular opinion that kids at a young age should be taught to write with BOTH left and right hands It has gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past though.

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Tuesday, 10-Dec-2019 16:25:03 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     • Shibaprasad B :liverpoolfc:

     @shibaprasad Because having full use of both your arms is functionally superior to have one arm crippled.

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Tuesday, 10-Dec-2019 17:35:24 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     • M. R. Jahnke

     @jahnke

     lol :)

     I see a few assumptions in your reply that I'd disagree with off the bat:

     1) that learning to use both hands is double the effort.

     2) That my intention in promoting kids learn to use both hands has to do with their ability to record information

     3) That it takes more time at all, at least when taught from a young age.

     Let me explain those points in more detail. To #1 and #3, I find learning to use each hand does not mean you double train on all tasks. Typically once you train your other hand on any fine motor task at all (like writing) then it translates to fine motor skills for other tasks, like drawing. In other words you dont have to learn to write x2, then learn to draw x2, then learn to type x2, etc If you are taught to use both hands on all tasks all the time (switching between them) then you will learn at about the same pace as someone using one hand, once you gain basic motor skills at all.

     Now to point #2, well as I covered in the last blip, it isnt about ways to record data, so much as physical skills: hitting a baseball, knitting, climbing a tree, writing, drawing, painting, playing the piano.

     The more you train both hands well the better you are at many other similar tasks. When you prefer one hand over the other in most tasks, however, then you wind up at a deficit in physical skill.

     Since it is no extra time if done from an early age (and only a minimal amount when learned as an adult) then I'd say it isnt wasted time since the amount of time investment is minimal and the advantages it bestows significant.

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Tuesday, 10-Dec-2019 19:59:45 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     • Kyle
     • M. R. Jahnke

     @khird

     Writing is a bit of a unique case. While it doesnt translate hand to hand it also isnt a x2 effort. LEarning a new script with one hand takes a fraction of the time to learn with the other hand if it already is capable of fine motor skills. But the movements are fairly different so there is some relearning.

     In the case of handwriting by nature of the fact english is left-to-right writing I tend to recommend learning to use your right hand for that. Only time you'd need to learn the left hand is if you do a right to left script too.

     Though its good to learn despite the usefulness due to just training your brain in general.

     @jahnke

   • 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱 (freemo@qoto.org)'s status on Tuesday, 10-Dec-2019 20:32:29 UTC 🎓 Dr. Freemo :jpf: 🇳🇱

     • Kyle
     • M. R. Jahnke

     @namark

     Yea I'd say that is a good way to put it. Since i started practicing skills on both hands its been very positive for me

     @khird @jahnke