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AIBU?

to be concerned about DDs writing?

26 replies

OctoberRose · 21/12/2015 12:40

Had parent's evening the other week. Good things said about DD who is 5 and in Year 1 (summer baby). Well behaved, polite, tries hard etc.

DD is left handed and occasionally writes her letters back to front, not in confusion (like b for d) but, intentionally forming them this way. If asked to write a word - she naturally writes it back to front - sometimes the letters will be the right way, but often it is literally mirror writing. She will also do this with sentences. She writes neatly for her age and if viewed in a mirror, her sentences are perfect.

Teacher didn't seem very concerned about this, nor did it seem, had really noticed (!) this was happening. This may be because DD is extremely quiet and shy in class, she will stop what she is doing if the teacher approaches. I noticed in her class books that during a writing lesson she will complete a sentence (the right way), then simply trace over it for a while. Maybe she is concerned about getting everything the 'right' way round?

DD can write the correct way if supervised or specifically asked to, but mirror writing seems to be her default.

Is this a sign she is struggling/behind? She doesn't seem frustrated at home when writing, the teacher didn't say anything to give me cause for worry.
Should I correct her every time she writes the wrong way?

She's a very bright little girl, takes in everything and is not at all shy at home (The complete opposite!! She's extremely stubborn!), has great speech and is good at maths. As a toddler, she took ages to sit up (9 months) then crawl (11 months) walk (18 months). She basically waits to do everything (even talk) until she's certain she can do it properly, without falling or failing.

Sorry for the length, none of this may even be connected - just want to know if I need to worry, do something etc!

OP posts:

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MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff · 21/12/2015 12:47

I used to do this as a child (I'm lefthanded) and had no problems with reading or writing. I wouldn't overthink it or get stressed (or stress your dd) about it tbh.

lougle · 21/12/2015 12:49

It takes a long time for some children to 'fix' writing formation and direction. If you think about it, we only read left to right because that's our convention. Arabic is written right to left. I doubt that people who have Arabic as their language are genetically predisposed to writing right to left - they are conditioned to it as children.

OctoberRose · 21/12/2015 12:50

Thank you! That's interesting that you did it too as a left handed person - is that connected? We're all right handed in our families.

She reads perfectly fine. I don't correct her at home, even on her homework - as I didn't want to make an issue of it until I know I need to.

OP posts:

Brindler · 21/12/2015 12:51

Watching this one as I have the same issue with my dd!

AngelBlue12 · 21/12/2015 12:53

I'm left handed and if I am note taking I always write in mirror writing as I find it much more comfortable to do. I really wouldn't worry about it, she probably finds that it flows better :)

Pipbin · 21/12/2015 12:54

Many children seem to go through a period of writing backwards. I teach reception and don't worry about it unless it goes on for a long time.

hefzi · 21/12/2015 13:18

All the LHers in my family have done this - I was always jealous, as I thought it was a cool skill to have! Unlike everyone else, I am RH, and had to go to remedial writing classes not that they did any good: my writing is still terrible but they all grew out of it by the end of primary school.

arethereanyleftatall · 21/12/2015 14:12

I think every single left handed person starts off writing like this don't they?
Certainly all the left handed children I know did/do.

SinkyMalinks · 21/12/2015 14:24

I'm a lefty and did this - my mum still has my primary workbook with my mirror writing! She did the same (also a lefty). My husband didn't (a lefty, but a rubbish one - he uses his right hand for everything other than writing and is right footed).

Don't worry!

blankmind · 21/12/2015 14:38

Lefty here too, I did the same. So did Leonardo DaVinci

I'll try to explain why mirror writing is easier for lefties, especially little ones who haven't yet perfected penmanship skills.

Okay righties, hold your pen, write something as you normally would, feel what you are doing, see how it flows, it's because you're pulling the pen. Now try and do some mirror writing still using your right hand. See how much more difficult it is to form the letters, because you are having to push the pen.

CorBlimeyTrousers · 21/12/2015 14:49

Another who has a year 1 summer-born lefties who does this :) His writing is pretty bad it be honest (I've seen other children's Christmas cards and his writing is definitely at the bottom end) but it is improving so I hope he'll get there in the end. In my opinion it is harder for left handers. We are both right handed and so are our families but just try using a left handed pencil sharpener (I bought our son one) to see how the world conspires against left handers :)

DisappointedOne · 21/12/2015 14:49

Yep, another mirror writing leftie here too. I also read magazines from back to front as it's more comfortable.

DisappointedOne · 21/12/2015 14:50

BonVoyageCharlieBrown · 21/12/2015 14:52

My left handed dd used to do this too!

knobblyknee · 21/12/2015 15:02

I'm left handed...is she bored in class? Is she free reading? It could be that she's not being stretched by the work. It can be passed over as day dreaming.

Luxyelectro · 21/12/2015 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreatFuckability · 21/12/2015 15:16

Yes, also a fellow leftie and I did the same fir years. I still can write with both hands in opposite directions at the same time!

DaemonPantalaemon · 21/12/2015 15:31

Oh now I want to be a lefty. Jealous you can all mirror write :)

KilburnOriginal · 21/12/2015 15:37

My Son is a leftie and in year 2 now, he does the same, he is getting better - particularly if he concentrates. I'm pretty sure its a common left-handed thing that they overcome as they get older....

hatters · 21/12/2015 15:41

I was just googling this the other day as DS 5 suddenly started writing his name mirrored. When I asked him about it, it seemed like he couldn't see the difference. He is right handed, but just got a new prescription for his glasses, so I thought it might be that!

The google results backed up what pp are saying though, it's just a phase and not to worry unless it carries on for a long time.

OctoberRose · 21/12/2015 16:21

Thank you all! Massively reassured now

Loving that this is a left-handed trait, it does make sense once you think about the flow of forming letters/words!

OP posts:

mrsleomcgary · 21/12/2015 17:34

Did this too,also a leftie. I also got 6 and e mixed up. Sorted itself out.

Part of my problem though was my p1 teacher was off the generation where left handedness was something to be beaten out of kids! She couldnt do that in the 90s obviously but she had zero clue how to teach me how to write. So left handed kids are typically told to tilt their page and position their hand differently,so it's above what they're writing and the wrist kind of curved,i was never told that I was told to try using my right hand! As a result my handwriting is absolutly shocking,i found some old school book recently and it hasnt really improved from when I was 8,its just gotten smaller.

Mirror writing? i'm confused? Are you all writing backwards,right to left or with your right hand. Funnily enough this is something else that I wasnt taught either!

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VaticanAssassin · 21/12/2015 17:51

I'm left handed OP, and used to do the exact same thing at that age according to my DM! Also, while I was bright and actually above the academic average way back then, my handwriting was absolutely atrocious. My number 3s looked like Zs, Gs looked like sixes...it was good work-except it took real concentration to actually decipher it!

I'm sure DD will be fine, and grow out of it as she gets older

SprinkleBlushes · 21/12/2015 18:02

I'm another leftie who used to mirror write. My mum still has a school book of mine from Year 1 in which I wrote a story about an alien and a giraffe who went to the beach. My handwriting was very neat but the entire story is mirror-written!

I grew out of it by the end of Year 2 and went on to have a very successful and English language focussed academic career.

Your DD's teacher has probably seen this many times and knows that if is just a phase that your DD will grow out of. I certainly wouldn't be worrying about it yet.

As an aside, I couldn't mirror-write now if my life depended on it and I am deeply jealous of those of you who have carried this skill into adulthood!

moveon · 21/12/2015 18:09

DD is left handed and used to do this. She is in Y3 now and has stopped doing it.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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