Mirror Image Writing - 4 1/2 year old - Parenting Issues Message Board

Viktorria · 12-07-2007, 02:21 PM

Just curious if anyone has had a situation where their child started writing in mirror image (not just some reversed letters, but actual mirror image)?

My 4 1/2 year old son has recently started this. Until now he's never even reversed a letter so this seems strange and extremely difficult. I don't think I could write in mirror image if I tried. Hoping that this is just a sign of creativity and not dyslexia?

happymom28 · 12-07-2007, 03:12 PM

My daughter started doing that right around the same age. She was in preschool at the time.

At that time the teacher told me not to worry too much. She said it was pretty common when children were starting out with writing. When she started kindergarten last year she was still doing it. Again, her teacher kept telling me not to worry. She also gave me some hand strengthening exercises to do with her such as using one hand to pick up 10 pennies. She also said that writing on an easle helped to strengthen different muscles in the hands. Both teachers told me that this "reversing" or "mirror imaging" was not necessarily a sign of dyslexia.

Well, this year she started first grade. Her and I worked together all summer and for the most part (there were still some mirror images) she was doing better. She was evaluated and now works with a specialist a few times a week with her writing and reading. There are 3 or 4 other kids in her class that work with her as well. In three months I have seen a huge improvement in her writing. She is writing all of her letters the correct way and her penmenship is actually legible.

Is your son in preschool? If so you may want to voice your concerns to his teacher. I don't think at this point you need to worry too much. It's something to keep an eye on and help him out with. At least if his teacher knows your concerns she may put that through to next year's kindergarten teacher. Keep practicing with him and encouraging him. Hopefully it will correct itself in time.

BioAdoptMom3 · 12-08-2007, 07:59 PM

I agree that you shouldn't worry too much yet. I have been teaching kindergarten and first grade for 25 years and this is very common in young children. They do not yet understand left to right progession when reading and writing. If you do not see improvement by first grade (keep in mind though that some letter and number reversals are common until the end of second grade) at that point you might want to discuss with the teacher the possibility of testing. Until then, just point left to right as you read to your child and give him lots of opportunities to write, draw, etc.

Nancy

Viktorria · 12-08-2007, 08:08 PM

thank you, he is in preschool. I called his teacher Friday afternoon and she said actual mirror imaging isn't common, but it's also not unheard of. She said that especially in kids who really enjoy drawing (my son does) that they often see letters as pictures and not actual letters, so reversing or writing in mirror image is just a way to alter the picture a little. She also said that she doesn't think its dyslexia based on her previous experience with other dyslexic children, so I feel a little better.

I'm just nervous b/c he has an assessment at January to get into a private school and I'm not sure how they would feel about it. He's extremely bright and I wouldn't want this to make it seem that he isn't.