Laterality: basic knowledge and dominance factors in schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years

Abstract

This study is characterized as a descriptive research aimed at analyzing lateral dominance in schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years, of both sexes, from the Orlando Luiz Basei Municipal School, located in Novo Sarandi district, Toledo, Paraná. The sample consisted of 80 children enrolled in the mentioned school, with 10 children per age group and gender. The instrument used for data collection was the lateral dominance diagnosis through gestures, proposed by NEGRINE (1986). Considering that laterality is one of the variables of psychomotor development and a relevant aspect of learning abilities, the test was applied to assess the children's lateral dominance. General results showed that 92.5% of the sample exhibited right-hand dominance and 7.5% left-hand dominance. Regarding foot dominance, the group showed 88.75% right-foot dominance and 11.25% left-foot dominance. For ocular dominance, results indicated 56.25% right-eye dominance and 43.75% left-eye dominance. These findings align with observations in the literature, where statistics suggest that, on average, 92% of the global population are right-handed, leaving only 8% as left-handed or ambidextrous. The divergence observed in ocular dominance is not considered an issue as it tends to stabilize between 12 and 14 years of age. Therefore, it was concluded that the children from the mentioned school generally do not present significant lateral dominance issues.