Advice please - dd writing everything back to front

[fivecandles]

dd2 (5) writes everything back to front. Not just bs and ds but whole words and she writes sentences right to left and the number 14 would be 41. Is this a sign of dyslexia? Her reading seems ok it's just her writing. I know I shouldn't compare but didn't have anything like this with dc1 who had made much more progress at the same age.

DD does this, but teacher said this is quite common with left handed children (which dd is) and just needs to be worked at.

Your dd isnt lefthanded by any chance?

is she left handed? I knew an adult who could write back to front, he found it more natural as he was left handed. Don't have any advice though sorry.

Not left handed.

Both my DTs did this and neither are left handed. One still does now and again.

Apprently its very common when learning to write. I don't think its a sign of dyslexia but I don't know much about that.

I do not know if it is a sign of dyslexia but I know a way you can help her

Some children need more sensory imput when learning. All children benefit but its more important for some.

You could try a few things

Put wooden letters into a bag and get her to feel them and guess what they are.
Cut letters out of sandpaper and get her to run her fingers over them
Get her to write in sand or rice
Trace letters onto her back with your finger and ask her to guess.

I dont mean do all at once or for hours at a time, a few minutes a day as a game should help.

Don't worry love, a lot of kids (including mine) go through this stage around this age.

My brother did this. He is now Head of Department at his university and has an impressive publications record. Afaik he now submits items for publication written the right way round

Writng backwards is coomon when children are learning to write.

Thanks all. Very reassuring.

Quite common at 5 years old. She is probably tracking right to left and therefore writes backwards. Does she read backwards too e.g saw for was? Is she trying to write 41 and says that, but writes 41. There are lots of activities that can encourage correct left to right tracking e.g. drawing lines from pictures such as a dog to a kennel. Ask school if this could be the problem. Most KS1 teachers should have all kinds of tracking games...