Left-and-Right Switcharoo

Pick your child's brain to see what he would do if his dominant hand was changed from right to left, or from left to right.

Left-and-Right Switcharoo

Required:

Your time only

Because most people are right-handed, we live in a world where items—scissors, keyboards, and so on—are for the benefit of right-handed people. Ask your child how things would change if the reverse were true. What items might your child have a hard time using? How might your child compensate for the inconvenience? What would be the benefits of accommodating a world that suddenly favored left-handed people? Ask your child what inventions might help him or her function in the new, reversed world.

Once your child has explored the possibilities of a left-and-right switcharoo, ask what would happen if most items were manufactured for giants. Then ask what would happen if items were built for small people. Come up with as many switcharoo possibilities as you can.

For the supreme challenge, ask your child to explain what would happen if the whole world were upside down. Hmmmm. Perhaps antigravity boots might help level the playing field!

Left-and-Right Switcharoo