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Is it normal for children to write letters backwards?
Yes. Reversing letters is common in young children until about the second year of school, and on its own it isn't a sign of dyslexia. Letters such as b, d, p and q are the same shape flipped and turned, so children take time to learn which way each one faces.
Key facts
- Reversing letters is typical and fairly common up until second grade (Year 2 in Australia). (Understood)
- Reversing letters or mirror writing isn't necessarily a sign of dyslexia; some children with dyslexia have trouble with it, but many don't. (Understood)
- b, d, p and q are all the same shape, flipped and turned. (Understood)
- Working on one letter at a time, and tracing letters while saying their sounds, can help. (Understood)
What helps
- One letter at a time: get b settled before adding d.
- Trace it big: in sand, on a back, in the air, saying the letter's sound as you go.
- Make b and d with your hands, thumbs up, fists together: it looks like a bed.
If you're worried about your child's reading or writing, talk to their teacher.
Games on Little Roos that help
- Waterfall: Telling b, d, p and q apart: finding the one different letter in a sea of look-alikes. Ages 4-7.
- Ps and Qs: Telling apart the letters children reverse most — p, q, b and d. Ages 4-7.
- Follow the Numbat: Writing lower-case letters in NSW Foundation Style: where to start, which way to go, when to lift. Ages 4-7.
- Sky Grass Dirt: Where a letter sits on the line — up in the sky, down in the dirt. Ages 4-8.
Sources
Updated