Does Your Child Confuse Letters or Write them Backward?

How to Correct Mirror Writing

Problem:   Children in grades 1 to 3 often write letters and numbers backwards, most commonly b's and d's, 3's and 5's, and 6's and 9's.  For example:

Solution:  Give the child a Rainbow Loom bracelet to wear on their wrist. Every time they go to write the letter or number they tend to reverse, they need to stop and move the bracelet to the other hand, then write the letter or number.

Why?   Moving the bracelet makes them stop and think about what they are doing. 

How it works:

1.         Determine the number/letter to change.

2.         Wear the bracelet.

3.         Before the student writes the number/letter they have to move the bracelet to the other wrist.

Most children who reverse letters and numbers know how to write them properly  When they write the numbers they tend to rush through it, without stopping to think about what they are writing. An example of this kind of mistake that happens with adults (and kids) is shown in the Stroop test. The Stroop test requires people to read the colour the word is written in, not what the word says. If you try it with the photo below, you might find that it is harder than it sounds.

Now, if you try it again, deliberately pausing one second between each word, you will likely find that you make less errors than before.

In the reverse writing solution, the bracelet forces a pause before writing, and the child is more likely to write the letter or number correctly.

If you try this solution, please let us know how it works in the comment section below.  Thanks!

--Olivia