During the past year, you may have noticed your toddler beginning to favor one hand over another for things like eating or reaching. (Babies tend to use their hands interchangeably.) This coming year, use of the dominant hand will become more consistent and you'll probably know for sure whether your child is left-handed or right-handed. Not sure yet? Try this: Hold out a toy and see which hand she uses to reach for it. Watch which hand she picks up her spoon with at meals. The dominant hand is usually stronger and has more dexterity, so it's the one she'll be likely to use.

A minority of kids remain ambidextrous, meaning they use both hands equally, until kindergarten. Some children use a dominant hand for eating and writing but the other hand for throwing a ball. Handedness is largely genetic. Only about one in 10 people are left-handed, but if both parents are lefties there's a 50 percent chance their child will be, too.

Don't try to change your child's inborn preference. Forcing a child to use the nondominant hand can create a lot of frustration and expend energy that could be going toward improving skills and learning.