Technically yes, you can 'train' a baby to be ambidextrous, but true ambidexterity occurs naturally - although it's very rare. It is estimated that only one out of a hundred people are ambidextrous.
What is Ambidexterity?
Generally speaking it means that a person is equally adept at using both their left and right hand. However, it can be difficult to measure if someone is naturally ambidextrous. Usually there are two reasons why someone may be considered to be ambidextrous:
- It is relatively common to find people who were originally left-handed but who have since developed the use of their right hand either deliberately or due to learning the wrong way at school, or undertaking a job which involves the heavy usage of the right hand. Left-handed people are far more likely to be ambidextrous because the majority of everyday devices are designed for right-handers.
- You can also be 'selectively' ambidextrous, such as being able to use both feet equally well when playing football or other sports. Again this can happen by consequence or you can train yourself. This happened to me when I first picked up a pool cue. Despite being right-handed I learnt to play left-handed accidentally and now I am virtually equally good at using both.
Ambidexterity can be taught, but it takes time and will most probably not result in true equality between using both appendages (one will usually be slightly better than the other.) Natural ambidexterity can occur but is very rare.
