Both Sided Baby

[HooD]

So I've come to the conclusion that having the ability to do things both sides equally or close to really helps in certain situations where dexterity from both arms or both legs is needed. So would I be too demanding or forceful if I taught my (potential) baby/child both sidedness in everyday life ? Teaching to eat both sides, throw both sides, and all sorts of other activities both sides. This stance isn't for just footbag, it pertains to all physical activities that make you use an extremity. Thoughts, comments ?

[Tsiangkun]

The word Bard comes to mind.

[slapdash21]

im telling you, there has been scientific evidence (nope, no links from me, find em yourself) that it is absolutely healthy for a child to become dominant on one side, and pushing them to use their weaker side to compesate doesnt work nearly as well as when you are older and more able to develop at a rate that promotes a responsible rate of even development. besides, despite your best efforts the child still wont come out totally both sided, only children born with the natural ambidextrous (sp) trait.

[QuantumBalance]

bullshit!

both sided baby is totally possible if you believe, and you encourage, but dont push

[Splint]

One of the parts about both sidedness is the ability to know when to use one over the other. I know it sounds weird, but it's really difficult for certain people who do different things with their hands (or feet) to know which is better for which purpose.

[ted]

Agreed, my younger brother, aside from being unusual in many other ways, didn't develop a sidedness until he was seven or eight years old. It was really awkward; he never knew which side to use because neither felt right. He'd write, throw, bat, kick, etc. alternately and thus was poorly developed in any activity until he chose a side.

[Bander87]

Thats true. If you could something with both sides, its more likely that the result wont be good as if you were one side. Specialization kinda.

[HooD]

Interesting Ted, but maybe he is a case like some people are when they are left or right handed, but aren't very coordinated. Some people can't do dexterous things well with their good side. Then again, what you said did make sense.

[Skeletor]

science schmience.

Being an amidextrous person myself, (one that trained into it, I wasnt born a "natural amidextrous person" as slapdash was saying. I find that the idea of only stimulating one side of the brain and body is pure human laziness.

Also, as a person who is studying Montessori and other forms of teaching children, I find it essential. Children do not know the difference until we point it out to them. Of course we can lean to one side and then just pick it and work with it until its perfected. It's what we're all grown up with. but it is completely possible and beneficial to use both sides of the body so that at no point are we unprepared. Also, just like both sides of the brain have different functions and qualities, so do hands. Any child who can attain strength in both arms is just like any of us mastering our both sides with footbag. And there are children that definitely need guidance but it only us that has decided we should use one. My younger sister chose to be right handed because everyoen was telling her she was left handed.
Unless you are some godly influence mostly everything is practise makes perfect.

(bit of a rant, spent all weekend at a folk festival, havent been able to stop talking since.)