How can I help my child with letter and number reversals?
If you have students who are struggling with reversals, follow these simple tricks to get them back on track.
- Work on one letter at a time. Master that formation before moving on.
- Teach letters in separate groupings. For example, lowercase b and d are easily reversed. That’s why we teach them in different letter groups.
How do I teach my child not to reverse letters?
Help your child establish a visual memory of each letter and the letter name and sound. Children who frequently exhibit reversals confuse reversible letters such as ‘b’ and ‘d’ because they have trouble pulling them from memory. Play “Memory” or “Go Fish,” using the letters the child tends to reverse.
At what age should a child stop reversing letters?
Reversing letters is common until around age 7. Writing letters backwards is not necessarily a sign that your child has dyslexia. There are things you can do at home to help your child stop reversing letters.
What do you do with letter and number reversals?
Letter Reversal INterventions
- Use writing in shaving cream or on a shaving cream sensory bag.
- Use sensory writing trays to practice letter formation.
- Use sandpaper to work on letter formation.
- Practice number and letter formation with chalk and carpet squares.
How do you address a letter reversal?
Address one discrimination at a time and over-teach one of the letters before introducing the other. For example, if you are addressing the b/d reversal, over-teach writing of the “b” before introducing the “d”. Use multi-sensory materials while teaching the letter(s).
Is it normal for 4 year olds to write backwards?
It’s completely normal for children to write “backward” at this age. In addition to letter and number reversals, some children will truly write in mirror image: going from right to left with all the letters reversed. That means almost all children will have persistent reversals when they first start writing.
When should I be worried about letter reversals?
It’s not unusual for young kids to reverse letters when they read and write. But when they still frequently write backwards or upside down beyond age 7, it could signal trouble with reading or language. People often think writing letters backwards is a sign of dyslexia , but that’s often not the case.