Have you noticed your child reversing letters such as b and d, or p and q when writing? It is a developmental error that is often seen in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. By the age 7, most reversals should be fixed. An occasional reversal is nothing to be worried about, however, if their letter reversals are still consistent after handwriting remediation, it may be a sign of a learning disability or dyslexia.
The good news is with the right remediation, your child can fix their letter reversals for good. There are several methods to practice for letter reversals.
1) Multi-Sensory Approach
Tracing letters with various textures is a great way to engage your child with handwriting. Whether they trace letters in sand, shaving cream, rice, etc., this activity helps reinforce the directionality of the letter with a memorable experience. The key for this activity is to be consistent with it. The more they practice, the stronger their muscle memory will become!
2) Teaching Letter Groups
Sometimes, a child benefits from distinguishing letters by categorizing them. For example, the letter "d" is considered a part of the magic c family (to form the letter "d", you begin by forming the letter "c"). When the child must distinguish between a "b" and "d", they can self-check by seeing if there is a hidden magic c to determine correctly. The same strategy can apply to "p" and "q": q is considered a part of the magic c family, but not p.
To learn more about different letter groupings, you can reference Learning Without Tears curriculum here: http://www.hwtcertification.com/pdf/letterformationcharts.pdf
3) Visual Hand Cues
Another simple way to help your child distinguish between letters is using visual cues. To create a b and d with your hands, you form a circle by connecting your thumb and pointer finger on both hands. The letter b is formed with your left hand, while the letter d is formed with your right hand. This method is most successful if your child has mastered the concept of left vs. right. To form p and q, you point your thumbs downwards and the remaining fingers make a fist. The letter p is formed with your left hand, and the letter q is formed with your right hand. These visual hand cues are quite effective and convenient for some students.
Written by Madison Dwyer