How do i stop my little man form doing things backwards?

[Athena404]

Recently I noticed my son has been doing alot of things the wrong way round. For example he reads was as saw, draws 5s as 2s, his rs are backwards, and will occasionally write a word like drow. He didn't used to do this and now he's doing it increasingly. Is there something I should be doing to help him stop? I don't even think he realises he does it

Quite normal until year 3 in my experience.

shivers 20 years as an ed psych and I still don't know what dyslexia is...😊

I've just completed a literature review on it for some study I'm doing and thought I was losing the plot a bit as I couldn't find anything concrete to define it. Your comment has made me feel that maybe I wasn't losing the plot after all
(Sorry OP - didn't want to derail - good luck with your son, he sounds typical of lots of little ones)

Oh he hasn't started school yet, that's why I was asking here. He is left handed but I don't see how that would make a difference??

It can be more difficult to make certain shapes when you are left handed as you can't see what you are writing. Certainly, at your son's age, don't be worried. That is perfectly normal. If he is still doing it at about age 7 or 8, then I would be worried. DD2 is severely dyslexic, with scotropic syndrome and it was only getting coloured glasses, for which she was specially tested, that helped things improve. She often, when reading, would miss out words completely, or add in a word from another line further down. For dyslexic people, the words 'jump' and are not still on the page. Often, they find electronic text easier. I think you are worrying far too much at the moment.

I'm left handed and I would write things backward (and sometimes mirror-image) until I was 6 or 7. Never diagnosed as dyslexic. I do have ADHD but I really doubt that's anything to do with it.

Yeah Twisted that doesn't sound like Dyslexia to me either. Sounds more like Dyspraxia? Or ASD

So he's still 4?

Two of my dcs are left handed and did a fair bit of backwards writing certainly until age 6. Both write fine now. If he's under 7 I probably wouldn't worry.

I had no idea him being left handed could cause issues. But that wouldn't effect his reading would it?

Didn't effect mine at all - matter of fact I was a little bit (not a lot) precocious with the reading.

Don't call him little man for starters.

What?

He hasn't even started school? Don't worry at all! It's really very common for children to do this when they are 4/5 even 6

stormy
If she wishes to call her DS little man , then she can - he is her son. What's it to you what she calls him?

But what can I do to help him? He gets upset whenever he realises he's made a mistake

If he hasn't even started school, then you have nothing to worry about. All you have described is a normal stage to go through when starting to figure out reading and writing.
Yes, left handedness can make 'seeing' a word difficult when writing as your hand covers up the part you have written so far.

Hi OP

I am not a teacher / ed psych etc. However, I'd say that if your child is not yet in school and is writing letters and numbers then that is super. My son still ran away whenever I got paper and pencils out (but now he is in school, he can read and write just fine).

Once he is in school, keep an eye on it. If it carries on then get him to practise writing out the numbers 1 to 10 and writing out some letters (maybe a handwriting practice book).

Reading and writing is such a new skill for such young children, it isn't that surprising if they sometimes get things backwards (and it is very common).

OP, I really wouldn't worry about it at the moment. He is very young and just getting the grips of reading and writing. My DS was the same - getting upset if he didn't get it right ( half the problem was me -I'd get frustrated after repeatedly showing him the right way). Don't get stressed about it , work with him in a fun way. He will get there.
Once he is at school you will be amazed what he will achieve, and any good teacher will alert you to any problems and advise you .

Loving the people who can think they can diagnose from 3 lines of info over the internet.

He's 4!?!? Maybe take a break from learning to write anything, and just enjoy playing. Especially as it's obviously upsetting him.

Athena as others have said at age the things you describe are perfectly normal and will improve with age and teaching.

My dd does a lot of writing backwards. It is normal - I did it myself up until about 8 - according to my mum. I do have a vague recollection.
It wasn't anything to worry about and I am not dyslexic. I think it is a normally developmental phase. It looks crazy though!

I think Twist is talking about writing letters in reverse formation eg dwon for down..this is very common in dyslexia even in older age children.Reversing letters ,that is, writing letters backwards is common in young children and nothing to worry about. They usually grow out of it as time goes on.
Op l wouldnt make a big fuss as he shouldnt be getting stressed at 4 about letters. Maybe take a break from it all and wait until he goes to school.