Four year old writing backwards

[myusernameisnotmyusername]

My four year old, February born is starting to write her name. She used to just write the first letter backwards but has now starting writing it all backwards. She has got better at writing the letters so is learning but should I be concerned she's writing the whole thing backwards? Is this 'normal'?

My dd (6 now) used to mirror write when she was tired. It was a bit freaky how perfectly backwards it was!

Still happens occasionally now, but usuallyjust the numbers 3 and 5 and single letters here and there rather than whole words. I think tiredness is a big factor.

She has trouble with spelling but is a super reader and very creative writer even if she uses mainly phonics based spelling eg norti rather than naughty. We are not worried.

My theory is, that for very young children, letters are just 'shapes'. So, just as a square or a circle remain a square or a circle, regardless of which way up they are drawn, a child needs to be helped to understand that letters have to be written in a correct 'orientation' to still be the correct letter.

Dd used to do this, she's left handed (don't know if that was a factor or not), it changed over time in infants', although occasionally she'll still get a number, eg 3, back to front (she's 9 now!)

Is she a leftie by any chance?

DD 7 is a leftie and does this.

Worse with numbers.

My son used to do that - right handed. He has gone on to be an early reader with no issues reading or writing. If that reassures you at all!

Like milk my DD16 used to write absolutely fluent mirror writing. It was bizarrely accurate & I got it into my head that it might be an indicator for dyslexia. She kept doing it, albeit with decreasing frequency, until Year 2. She is currently sitting her GCSEs, not dyslexic & predicted good grades.

Really normal! Lots of kids do this! Please don't worry, just keep modelling writing and I'm sure your child will self correct.

Absolutely normal. Upside down, back to front, it's all fine. In fact it just shows how well their wee minds work.
Preschoolers are fascinating.
(Nursery manager here)

My DD does this, her very experienced nursery teacher said to put a dot on the left hand side of the page to remind her where to start from, but not to worry about it otherwise.

Ah my 4 year old left hander does this. I'm not worried!

Mines the same age. Been writing his name for about a year and a couple of months ago started to write it backwards.

Nursery said totally normal and now he's back to writing it correctly again. No need to worry.

DS (6) used to do this a lot, still does sometimes but it is becoming less, DD (3) almost 4 does it loads!

My 5 yo does this. She's left handed so I consider it normal.

It's common among left handed children

Is she trying to write messages form the devil...?

Or is that just Beatles records?

My son at four did this. His reception teacher said it was totally normal and usual. He stopped at about six.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel reassured now. She isn't really left handed but I think she might be ambidextrous as I'm left handed so sometimes she uses her left hand. But her writing is definitely getting better so I'll just keep practising with her.