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Telling look-alike letters apart
Knowing b from d, and p from q: the letters children flip most. Little Roos has 2 free games that practise it, for ages 4-7.
Where it fits
In the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 (birth to five) and the Australian Curriculum v9 (Foundation to Year 2), with the official wording:
- AC9EFLY11 (Australian Curriculum v9: English, Foundation): recognise and name all upper- and lower-case letters (graphs) and know the most common sound that each letter represents.
- EYLF 5.4 (Early Years Learning Framework V2.0): Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work.
Games that practise it
- Ps and Qs: Telling apart the letters children reverse most — p, q, b and d. Ages 4-7.
- Waterfall: Telling b, d, p and q apart: finding the one different letter in a sea of look-alikes. Ages 4-7.
Away from the screen
About two minutes each, with things most homes have.
Letter bodies (from Ps and Qs)
- Stand up together and make a b with your bodies: one arm straight up for the stick, the other curved in front of your tummy for the round bit.
- Now turn round so the round bit is on the other side. What letter is it now? (d)
- Try p and q by pointing your stick arm down to the ground.
Which way does it face? (from Waterfall)
- Write a row of p's on paper, with one b hidden among them.
- Your child finds the b and draws a ring round it.
- Swap: they write a row for you to search. Try b and d, then p and q.
Things to ask while they play
- Which way is the round part facing: towards the stick's left, or its right?
- Where does the stick go on a p? Up to the sky, or down into the dirt?
- Which letter are you looking for this time?
- How did you know that one was a b and not a d?
More skills in Letters and sounds, or every skill.
Updated