Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Dd is 4.5, and just finished pre-k. She'll be going into kindergarten in Sept. All school year she has been writing certain letters and numbers backwards. Mostly the letter 'd' which is in her name and almost every single time she writes her name, which is several times a day, she writes the 'd' backwards, even with reminders of how to write it. And I've noticed she writes some other letters backwards too, and sometimes she'll write her whole name backwards starting from the last letter. She's too young to really read yet, but sometime she'll look at a sight word like "no" and say "on". Can anyone tell me if this sounds like normal stuff for this age, or should I look into finding out if she possibly has dyslexia? She's very very bright, which is the only reason why I'm starting to be concerned, because I feel like after a whole year of practicing writing her name several times a day, shouldn't she at least have mastered those few letters?

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

It's normal!
DD jsut finished first grade and up until a few months ago was STILL messing up on b's and d's.

I asked both her K and her 1st grade teachers about it and both said it's 100% normal and can go on even into 2nd grade.

Her teacher in 1st did this thing with them that I dont' fully remember but when DD is writing sometimes she will stop before writing a b or a d and do this thing with her fingers that the teacher showed them and that seems to clear it up for her.
I have no idea what it is though.

I always tell her that "b" has the "Belly"

I have read it is because of the way children process things. They know that a block or a toy car is still a block or a toy car even if it's turned upside down. So to them, when writing letters, it should be the same.

It's definitely normal though!

Message edited 6/27/2017 3:24:27 PM.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Read this!

Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Yes very normal! Don't worry!

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

My DS is also 4.5 and he writes N backwards all the time, and it's in his name.

In terms of reading/comprehension, he's learning sight words in lower and upper case letters right now.

Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Dd did not get enough practice writing in prek and she's definitely been doing this lately. Her occupational therapist recommended practicing 'Magic c' letters. So you practice a c and then turn that into a d, a, g, q, and o. So if she knows her name has the magic c letter maybe that will help.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Yes. Normal. Esp b and d
Backwards reading is normal too...
Went away for my son in K.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Please get her tested. My DS has dyslexia and these are the signs. How is her handwriting? A good preliminary place to start is if the handwriting is bad coupled with what you wrote. Fm if questions.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Normal for a 4.5 year old. Reversals are developmental and can be seen in typical kids even into 2nd grade. You really can't reliably or definitively test for dyslexia that young.

Message edited 6/27/2017 8:56:21 PM.

Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Thanks for all the input, it makes me feel a bit better about it, but I will definitely work with her over the summer and ask her teacher about it in the Fall if she's still doing it a lot.

Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

My son going into second grade still does it occasionally (when he's rushing and not fully paying attention). So definitely normal.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Very normal! My 4.5 year old dd will sometimes even write her name in perfect mirror image.

Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

What did the prek teacher say? She should be able to tell you whether it's concerning after working with her all year.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Message edited 6/29/2017 7:32:53 AM.

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

Re: Is it normal for preschoolers to write letters backwards?

My son just turned 5 and does this often too...mostly with writing S's as Z's. Im not too concerned and will just keep practicing with him.