non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;)

Iveyrock · 12-20-2013, 11:14 PM

Max is five. Recently he broke his arm, and has been forced to do things with his left hand. It's been about a month, and in the last couple of days, his drawing and writing skills have jumped like crazy. He's gone from drawing squiggly lines that he sometimes assigns meaning to, to wanting to draw all the time, drawing identifiable things, and adding in creative detail. He has gone from recognizing the letters M and X and nothing else to wanting to write on everything he draws, and actually forming the letters. This is all within the past week. This is a picture he drew today - he wasn't writing letters a week ago. The picture is of me, and as he drew it he looked at me and added in details (cast, crutches, etc - things he was actually seeing, not just a generic stick figure).

[IMG]

Max's drawing of me, with my cast and crutches by Ray and Alex, on Flickr[/IMG]

It's absolutely amazing to watch. He had no interest in writing before, and almost none in drawing. Ray pointed out that he's holding the markers in his left hand with a perfect grasp. He wonders if maybe he hasn't actually been left handed the whole time, and we just didn't realize it because he was using his right. My sister (Starfish) suggested that maybe using the other hand is making his brain form new connections and cross the mid-line - something that he would have had a lack of, earlier in his life. I suppose it's also possible that it's because he's had to slow down, and actually has spent time on this, but the jump was really sudden and huge. I am absolutely thrilled - it's like watching him bloom - but I am also intrigued about why this is happening.

Maggirayne · 12-20-2013, 11:16 PM

That's cool! I have no idea, but that sounds plausible.

SilverMoon · 12-20-2013, 11:19 PM

The mid line jump was my first thought.

if he's holding the marker correctly, maybe he is more dominant in his left hand, but also ambidextrous enough to make it seem like he's right handed.

After the cast is removed, it will be interesting to see if he chooses to be a lefty or a righty.

tempus vernum · 12-20-2013, 11:36 PM

In one of my brain gym books it discusses using both hands to get the brain firing more actively! It talks about midline and I think something else!

there are several activities with the non dominant hand to help the non dominant eye and non dominant hemisphere of the brain!

Amazing and so excited to see how thing a progress

Iveyrock · 12-20-2013, 11:46 PM

I sort of want to tie all of my other kids' hands behind their back and see what happens

Elora · 12-20-2013, 11:49 PM

found it

This is INCREDIBLE! I'm so excited for you and for him!!!

I really do think it's a combination of so many things that are going on with you and with him right now. I can't even imagine how crazy hard it's been, but I'm really stoked to hear that he's drawing... pictures of YOU... to express where his concern and focus is... his mom's struggles <3

not his own

what else is he drawing?

12-20-2013, 11:14 PM	#1
Iveyrock Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 10,923	non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) Max is five. Recently he broke his arm, and has been forced to do things with his left hand. It's been about a month, and in the last couple of days, his drawing and writing skills have jumped like crazy. He's gone from drawing squiggly lines that he sometimes assigns meaning to, to wanting to draw all the time, drawing identifiable things, and adding in creative detail. He has gone from recognizing the letters M and X and nothing else to wanting to write on everything he draws, and actually forming the letters. This is all within the past week. This is a picture he drew today - he wasn't writing letters a week ago. The picture is of me, and as he drew it he looked at me and added in details (cast, crutches, etc - things he was actually seeing, not just a generic stick figure). [IMG] Max's drawing of me, with my cast and crutches by Ray and Alex, on Flickr[/IMG] It's absolutely amazing to watch. He had no interest in writing before, and almost none in drawing. Ray pointed out that he's holding the markers in his left hand with a perfect grasp. He wonders if maybe he hasn't actually been left handed the whole time, and we just didn't realize it because he was using his right. My sister (Starfish) suggested that maybe using the other hand is making his brain form new connections and cross the mid-line - something that he would have had a lack of, earlier in his life. I suppose it's also possible that it's because he's had to slow down, and actually has spent time on this, but the jump was really sudden and huge. I am absolutely thrilled - it's like watching him bloom - but I am also intrigued about why this is happening. __________________ Amber (code name - ALEX): wife to Ray, mommy to Ian 2/17/05, Chava 3/31/07, Max and Lena 5/17/08, and Micah 1/4/09 - and Tanya, newly home from Eastern Europe - 5/20/2006 To... living with, living with, living with - not dying from disease! - Rent "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." — Terry Pratchett (Terry Pratchett's Men at Arms)

12-20-2013, 11:16 PM	#2
Maggirayne Rose Garden Standing for gentleness and honesty Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Looking for Hope Posts: 12,027	Re: non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) That's cool! I have no idea, but that sounds plausible. __________________ Maggi, Tw irler of the Umbrella of Silliness Mama to two sweet littles and 3 angels 12/4/11 10/7/13 12/8/13 Grace is not a destination, it's a journey. I first learned to show grace to my child that was not shown to me, then I learned to accept it for myself, and only recently have I been able to have grace for others more. ~Sweetpeasmommy A

12-20-2013, 11:19 PM	#3
SilverMoon Rose Garden It takes less time to do a thing right than to explain why you did it wrong. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 17,122	Re: non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) The mid line jump was my first thought. if he's holding the marker correctly, maybe he is more dominant in his left hand, but also ambidextrous enough to make it seem like he's right handed. After the cast is removed, it will be interesting to see if he chooses to be a lefty or a righty. __________________ Cynthia "Trust is rebuilt by focusing not on what the other person did or did not do but on critiquing one's own behavior, improving one's trustworthiness, and focusing attention not on words and promises but on actions, attitudes, and ways of being." — Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith The Art of Waking People Up for the many, many wise voices we've lost married 20 years Mom to: ds1 10/93 dd1 5/95 ds2 5/97 7/96 (twin of ds2) 11/96

12-20-2013, 11:36 PM	#4
tempus vernum Rose Garden I am the mountain. I am not the storm and the storm is not me. -Ian Cron Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28,913	Re: non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) In one of my brain gym books it discusses using both hands to get the brain firing more actively! It talks about midline and I think something else! there are several activities with the non dominant hand to help the non dominant eye and non dominant hemisphere of the brain! Amazing and so excited to see how thing a progress __________________ ~Spring always comes after winter~ 2 Corinthians 4:16 “ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ”

12-20-2013, 11:46 PM	#5
Iveyrock Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 10,923	Re: non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) I sort of want to tie all of my other kids' hands behind their back and see what happens __________________ Amber (code name - ALEX): wife to Ray, mommy to Ian 2/17/05, Chava 3/31/07, Max and Lena 5/17/08, and Micah 1/4/09 - and Tanya, newly home from Eastern Europe - 5/20/2006 To... living with, living with, living with - not dying from disease! - Rent "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." — Terry Pratchett (Terry Pratchett's Men at Arms)

12-20-2013, 11:49 PM	#6
Elora Deactivated Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 16,426	Re: non-dominate hands and brain development. I want to know all of the things ;) found it This is INCREDIBLE! I'm so excited for you and for him!!! I really do think it's a combination of so many things that are going on with you and with him right now. I can't even imagine how crazy hard it's been, but I'm really stoked to hear that he's drawing... pictures of YOU... to express where his concern and focus is... his mom's struggles <3 not his own what else is he drawing? you've done such an awesome thing for your kiddos. you've loved like some of them have not experienced before. you've reached out, and obviously touched them beyond what their words can express. you've sacrificed, like they may not recognize for yrs to come. considering he didn't draw beforei think this picture representssomething pretty amazing

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