writing backwards - is this a sign of something or just a step on the way?

[sunnysideup]

Saw my friend today for the first time in ages, her dd started school in Sept the same time as my ds...she was asking my thoughts on her dd's writing but tbh DS (4) is not writing recognisable stuff yet so I was no help at all!!

Her dd can write her name and a few other words, but I don't think she can really 'read', these are things she has practised alot because she is a very sit-downy girl who is happy to draw, colour in, copy letters etc.....but when she writes her name freehand, ie not following dots, she writes it backwards as in

ELLA (not her real name but you get the picture!)
she writes
ALLE but she even writes the letters backwards, facing the left if you know what I mean?

She is left handed. School haven't raised this as a concern for her but I think my friend is now starting to worry about dyslexia or something. Was no help today so wondered if you guys would have any thoughts I could go back to her with!

TIA

Perfectly normal, I should think. Ds1 often reversed his letters (mirror-imaging), and both he and dd have gone through phases of writing some or all of the letters in their names upside-down.

I can still remember reversing numerals in Y1 or 2.

I don't know for sure, but from my experience I doubt whether it's a sign of dislexia or any other problem.

As a primary teacher with lots of experience working in reception I would say tell your friend not to worry.

Her DD is still learning to write, and even if she is the sit down type who has always done lots of drawing and writing etc. it doesn't mean the areas of her brain needed to write are fully developed.

Her left-handedness is probably partly causing this letter reversal but again it shouldn't be a problem ,she will most probably grow out of that as she develops. It is very hard at that age to make a diagnosis of dyslexia too, as there are so many other factors that have to be present, letter reversal is not an indication of dyslexia or other learning dificulties.

I'd say the reason the school hasn't commented to your friend about it is because it really isn't a problem, not at this stage anyway! It is more important that the school encourage the girl's enjoyment of writing and understanding that writing carries meaning and is a way of communicating, rather than just teaching the correct way to form letters. I

n some countries in Europe reading and writing aren't tought till 6 or 7, and they are no worse academically that children in the UK. What I mean is, it's good that she is writing at all, as you said your DS isn't even at this stage yet (very normal, he's only 4 ) so reassure her there is nothing to worry about!

hope this helps!

sorry this turned into an essay!

PS I'm left handed and if I want to I can mirror write without having to think about it much, it just sort of comes naturally! Good party trick!

wow, your friend's dd is my dd's long lost twin!

well, her name isn't ella and she sometimes writes left to right (she seems to randomly decide which side to start), but she does do perfect mirror writing of her name and is left handed. she can only write her name so far though.

ds 5.11 in y1 primary... We recently had parents evening and i asked the teacher about this, i was concerned as his reading is quite advanced but his writing is all over the place. She says its all normal at this age and shouldnt worry.. Hope this helps..

oh what lovely responses, thank ou so much everybody! Climbingrosie, it's brilliant to get your view on it, and that's going to be hugely re-assuring to her I know.

How useful to have someone with your experience on here, I shall be stalking you for advice at times I think, now that my ds is at school!

Thanks all, I'll phone my friend and be able to offer your sage advice now!

Anytime sunnysideup! Glad I was of help!

Hi Sunnysideup - my DD also in year 1, 5.4 and left handed - she also sometimes rights perefectly back to front - she does is more with numbers than letters now. School says definately nothing to worry about and very typical of left handed children. Hope this helps.

Hi, my dd started reception in December and is left-handed, she normally writes her name correctly, but sometimes she writes it backwards, at parents evening the teacher seemed to think that most left-handed children do write at least some words backwards when they are leaning to write and that it was nothing to worry about.

ds writes backwards too. Or occasionally just puts all the letters on the paper in a jumble. It is all part of learning.

My brother (another left-hander) used to write backwards as well.

(So did Leonardo da Vinci, and he did OK for himself...)

I am left hand and I remember that I used to write backwards too!!!!

LOL, I remember writing on the wall and trying to pretend it wasn't me!!!!!!

I think someone posted on a similar thread, that children just think differently. To them a bus is a bus whether it's upside down, right way around, back to front etc etc, and they see letters the same - it still says 'a' whichever way around it is or where it is on the page.