Helping children work through letter reversals

When I was a K-4 teacher one of the most common questions I heard from parents concerned letter reversals. Are they normal? When should you worry that your child might possibly have a learning disability?

The answer I was trained to give was: "Don't be concerned about letter reversals until winter of third grade."

So, up until December of third grade, letter reversals are probably developmentally normal. After that, you should seek help. (More ideas one what to do if you suspect something is wrong with your child's learning here.)

In the meantime, if your child is mixing up some of the most common letters: b, and d, here's a quick tip.

Teach your child to spell "b –e –d" and make the thumbs up sign with both hands. That will show them which ways the b and d go.

This is a trick that kids (usually) love. I hope it works for you!