An Investigation of Hand Use in Preschool Children: Vocabulary and Social Competence Predict Cognitive Development

Previous research indicates that strong right-hand preference predicts performance in other skills, such as vocabulary size and executive function (EF). The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between these functions, as well as social competence (SC), in a sample of preschool children. We used parent questionnaires and/or tabletop assessments to measure hand preference, fine motor skills, language, EF, and SC in 81 three- to five-year-old children. The results strengthened the evidence of a connection between right-hand use for pointing and vocabulary performance but indicated that right-hand use was not related to EF or SC. Further, the findings revealed a reciprocal connection between vocabulary and SC as well as EF and SC, but not vocabulary and EF. We discuss the implications of these connections for early childhood development.