Hi Mama's,
I have noticed that when my 4 year old son is writing, he is writing some of his letters and words backwards, almost like a mirror image. I have mentioned this to his preschool teacher and she told me that is perfectly normal for some kids his age when they are learning to write, and that he could possibly be left handed. This is a very good possiblity because I am left handed and several of my extended family members are also. She started working with him on writing from Green to Red (focuses on going from left to right), but when the stickers arent on the page he still writes backwards. He is using his right hand to write and eat with mostly, but will also use his left too. I know it is also a sign of dislexia (which also runs in my hubby's family), but he is too young yet for diagnosis. Have any of you mamas experienced this with any of your children? If so what did you do? Should I push him to try to use his left hand more or just let him figure it out on his own? I don't want him to be behind because he's having to relearn everything with the other hand later on. Being left handed is hard enough in a dominantly right handed world. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
This is compeletely normal my 6 yr old still writes some letters and numbers backwards , but a year ago she would write her name and you could flip the paper over and it would be perfectly backwards everyletter and the word written backwards. it takes practice. Now if he's 7 or 8 and still is writign that way then you need to worry about dislexia ( cant spell LOL)Just let him figure it out on his own, if his dominant hand that he reaches for stuff with is his left hand then he is prob left handed. When was a kid I could write with both hands equily well and it just eventually went to my right hand.
Your son's teacher is right. I have been a first grade teacher for 10 years, and I always have parents who are concerned about the same thing. Individual letter reversal is common and developmentally appropiate until around age 8. Kindergarden will work on this a great deal, and he will most likely figure it out within the next year. If he is still writing entire sentences or words backwards (and I don't mean words like saw and was that all kids write backwards) toward the end of kindergarden, he may need to work with an Occupational Therapist. Every school should have one, so just bring your concerns to his teacher then. Since you have a family history of Dyslexia, you are in an advantaged situation to be able to spot the warning signs early, so do stay on top of things, but remember that it is extremely rare for a child to be diagnosed before age 8.
As far as which hand he uses, just let him choose. He will eventually settle on one hand, and if he doesn't, all the better. That way he will be able to use both hands well and when he breaks his arm on his bike, he'll still be able to do his homework! :-)
How about taking your child to writing therapy
This is normal! I used to teach Pre-K, and most kids do this when they're learning how to write. You are right to stay on top of it because of the family history, but I wouldn't worry about it at this point. He'll most probably figure it out on his own or with more guidance.
I don't have advice, but I wanted to say thanks for posting. I've been afraid of the same thing with my four-year old. She will write an entire word backwards - letters and all! It's good to know it's not as worrisome as I thought.
Yes at this age it is perfectly normal. Let him figure out if he is a lefty or a righty. There is a cheap and great curriculum (about $7) that will help him never write things backwards again (doesn't matter if he is left or right) Check it out. http://www.hwtears.com/
Kristie
homeschool mom of 5
Hi lauren - My now - 21 year old - who is left handed did the same thing. I can remember panicking and asking the teacher about it. I got the same response as you. She is about to graduate from college. We worked with her and she eventually started writing correctly. This did not go on for a long time. Good luck!
Hello! I too have a 4 yr old son that writes that way. He IS left handed and his preschool teacher said the same thing. We have purchased a ton of practice writing books and just practice, practice, practice. We also have him writing letters being a "pen pal" with his Aunt that lives in New England. This seems to be helping. Hopefully they will out grow it as they continue to learn :)
Hi Lauren,
I was a reading specialist (which means I was trained in writing, too). It is normal for children to reverse letters up to 7 yrs old. He is just learning to that we right left to right so that will come, too. The accepted wisdom about handedness is to let him figure it out on his own, that, in fact, to try to change him from left to right could "mix-up" his brain and effect some of his creativity and other gifts. That being said if he seems to be noticeably off from his peers call your school district and they will do an evaluation for free through the Child Find program. That being said....the best thing you can do for him is to relax. Whatever difficulties he may or may not have you will deal with when the time comes. It is not unusual for a child to need help in one or two areas (both of mine did) and focusing on his strengths rather than his weaknesses will help both of you. Children are a package, they come with a few quirks. Not a problem. Second most important thing is to KEEP READING and WRITING FUN! I can not emphasize this enough. Read to him and make it special time. Literally (no pun intended hee, hee) every day is best (or at least most days) until he won't let you any more. I will read to them when they are in into high school if they will still let me! Thirdly, model reading and writing yourself. These are the most important factors. The rest will come. All children will learn to read and write in their own time (unless there is an unusually severe challenge). Keeping it fun and positive and relaxed are key factors! There is plenty of help for you and your son. Take a deep breath, call Child Find if you need to, and enjoy your little guy and his fascinating and miraculous development. Remember, you have to be his advocate and NUMBER 1 CHEER LEADER! Focus on what he does right, find help where he needs it, and keep every moment of your precious time together as special as you can!
Kudos for your great parenting!
Warmest Regards,
Emilie
It's perfectly normal. My daughter wrote that way when she was four, in fact she would write mirror images of the letters, and it freaked me out. She was ambidexterous at the time. Little did I know that her dad was trying to train her to be right-handed! At 13 she's left-handed for everything except throwing and using a bat or golf club. I think she bowls right-handed, too.
RELAX! I teach preschool and have raised three kids. Almost all kids write backwards-either from right to left or reversing their letters or a combination. I know of several who actually did both-wrote their first and last name from right to left with every letter reversed. Not a big deal at 4 The more pressure you put on him the more frustrated he will become and then you will run yourself right into a pre diagnosis of an LD or dyslexia. (btw-when a person uses both hands to do tasks, its called ambidexterous and is actually a very cool thing)
My friends daughter did this. She ended up being left handed, but did have a teacher trying to force her to use her right. She's in the 2nd grade next year and is improving a lot. My advice is let him use whatever hand he feels most comfortable with and work with him on his writing. Thats what my friend did. This next year (2nd grade) is when they will test her for dyslexia. Good luck!
HI Lauren,
I'm a Pre-K teacher here in Effingham and let me reassure you, writing backwards is a completely normal thing. Most, if not all, kids go through this stage around 3 or 4. It is a developmental part of writing. Just keep presenting him with his name and other words correctly and it will work itself out. Don't tell him it's wrong, because he won't see it. Tracing papers sometimes help but let me also say this, research has shown that writing your name correctly shouldn't even occur until about 6 years old. We are pushing our little ones to grow up so fast! Good luck!
My little cousins write backwards and she is 6yrs old. I have to get on to her for writing backward and tell her to erase it and start over. She left handed and she doesnt like for her sister who is also left to try and teach her right but she will not listen to her. So give it a little time and see he if he grows out of it bc he might just right backward until he is a little old. My little cousin father still write some of his letters backward and he is grown.
I think it is perfectly normal for a 4 year old to write backwards. My daughter (4 1/2) almost always writes her name backwards, though she will write most other things forwards, but not always. I definitely would not push him or make any big deal. Just let him keep writing--it's all new to him and he's still learning. Letters can look very similar to that age backwards and forwards and they are still figuring it all out. I think it's crazy that we have to worry about a 4 year old being "behind" because they do not write forward (that is a relatively new phenomenon. It used to be that at that age they were worrying about running and exploring outside). Also, I'd let him figure out which hand to use for himself without pushing one above the other. If he can write at 4 years old, backwards or forwards, he's doing great!
Hi Lauren,
I went through the same thing with my oldest daughter two years ago. When she was in pre-k at four years old she would write backwards. I was also concerned and talked to her teacher who said it was normal at that age. She did it so well I thought something could be wrong. Well now she just finished kindergarten and doesn't have any problems. What ever stage she went through it ended. She is also lefthanded. I wouldn't worry about it, it is normal for that to happen at this age. Good luck!
No need to worry about anything, my four year old did the same thing, if you don't push it he will figure it out on his own. Children are so much more resilient than us adults, they can adjust to just about anything so give him a chance, he is only 4. When we were kids we didn't learn to write until we got to kindergarten and we all turned out ok! :) I know the desire to have him "on track" with the other children but he may just need some more time to figure out which hand is more comfortable. If he is dyslexic, you have shown that you are a very caring and involved mama and will get him the help he needs. As you know this is the key to a successful child! Most people with dyslexia are extremely intelligent! Much luck, don't feel alone, most likely it is just a normal process he is going through to learn to write.
He is perfectly normal. No need to worry mom. SMILE!
Hey Lauren,
It really is normal for them to do it when they are starting out. As far as figuring out left or right... practice at home. Place the pencil in her left hand and see if she writes with her left or switches into her right hand. I don't know what the procedure is for straightening out the dislexia but you could practice doing patterns while they're this young. Yellow, Red, Yellow, ? OR cat cat dog, cat cat dog, cat ? AB AC AB ? Have fun with it!