By what age have most children established a dominant hand?

Most children typically establish a dominant hand by around five years of age. The development of handedness is a gradual process that often begins earlier, with some children clearly favoring one hand by age two or three. However, by the time they reach five years old, most children have made a more definitive choice regarding their dominant hand, which typically stabilizes around this period. Handedness development is an important part of motor skill development and can vary among children, but research supports that five years is a common age for this preference to become apparent and consistent.

As children approach six years old, many will have refined their motor skills even further, but by five, the majority have already shown a clear inclination towards using one hand for tasks such as writing or drawing, which indicates the establishment of a dominant hand.