Subject: Reading and Writing
Skill: Letter Reversals
Does your child mix up the letter “b” and the letter “d”? How about the letter “p” and the letter “q”?
If you have noticed these letter reversals, first of all, take a breath! Letter reversals are a normal part of a child’s literacy development. It doesn’t mean we should ignore them, but it also doesn’t mean that they are a cause for worry!
First of all, understand that the lowercase b, d, p, and q are all basically the same shapes. The only difference is that the shapes are turned in different directions to make each letter.
So, as your child is busy learning the shapes, names, sounds, and how to write ALL of the letters, remember they also have to keep track of which direction those tricky b, d, p, and q’s need to be facing.
Try This Tonight
Want a strategy to try?
Have your child hold up their left hand with the left thumb up (like showing “thumbs up” with their left hand). Your child’s “tall” thumb becomes the tall line of the lowercase “b” and their fingers become the circle of the lowercase “b”.
Have your child practice this “thumbs up” pose with their left hand repeatedly and always make sure they are doing it with their left hand. You can call this the “b” hand—and it might help your child learn the difference between their left hand and right hand, too!
What Can I Say?
- “Show me your ‘b’ hand.”
- “The ‘b’ hand is always the hand that you don’t write with.”
- “The ‘b’ hand is also your writing hand!”
- “Made their bed pretty quickly.”
Where Should I Start?
Pick the sentence that best describes your child. Then select the activity to try.
- My child mixes up lowercase “b” and “d”.
Try: Make the “b” Hand. - My child needs help knowing left from right.
Try: Find the “b” Hand. - My child needs more help telling “b” and “d” apart.
Try: Make a “bed”. - My child mixes up lowercase “p” and “q”.
Try: Flip for “p” and “q”.
Try These Ideas at Home
Find the “b” Hand
If your child needs a little more help with the difference between left and right, here’s what to try.
If your child w-r-i-t-e-s with their right hand, then the “b” hand is always the hand that they don’t write with. If your child is a lefty, their “b” hand is also their writing hand!
Make a “bed”
Here’s one more strategy that builds off of the “b” hand one.
If your child makes the “b” hand with their left hand, and then does a “thumbs up” with their right hand, they’ve now made the representation of the lowercase “d”.
With both of your child’s hands making the “thumbs up” sign, tell them to hold their hands together to make a “bed” with the “b” hand being the headboard and the “d” hand being the footboard of a bed.
Flip for “p” and “q”
If your child “flips” both of their “thumbs up” hands upside down, they now have a lowercase “p” on their left hand and a lowercase “q” on the right.
If they go from the “b/d” position directly to the flip, they can say that they “Made their bed pretty quickly” to make the “p” and the “q”.
Why These Strategies Can Help
These strategies are great to try because your child always has their hands with them! Once they learn these “thumbs up/ thumbs down” hand motions, they can use them to help identify and form these letters correctly.
When Should I Contact the Teacher?
Next, find comfort in the fact that many children will resolve the letter reversal issue naturally as they grow as readers and writers as long as they are receiving direct handwriting instruction and practice while they are at school.
If you are continuing to see letter reversals into 3rd grade along with other reading and spelling issues, then you might want to talk with your child’s teacher to address those issues.
Happy Reading!
Questions?
Stephanie Runion
Harrison County ELA Curriculum Specialist
srunion@k12.wv.us
(304) 326-7326