Mirror writing: when your child writes backwards
Your child writes their name from right to left, or turns letters like s, j and z the wrong way. Research shows mirror writing is very common in young children, and it usually disappears as they learn letters well.
For: Parents, teachers and therapists of children aged 4 to 8
A cover page with the plan, then 7 worksheets in order (8 pages). Free, no sign-up.
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Save to PinterestWhy it happens
- The brain naturally treats a shape and its mirror image as the same thing. Learning letters means unlearning that.
- Letters that face left (like j, z, 3) are reversed most often, because most letters face right.
- Left-handed children and children who start writing at the right side of the page mirror more often.
What helps
- Mark the left side of the page with a green dot: “start here”.
- Practise the most-reversed letters on their own, with the start dot and arrows.
- Say where the letter goes: “j goes down and hooks back”.
- Do not worry before age 7; keep practice calm and short.
The planstep by step.
1Left to right
Tracking from left to right.
2The letters that flip
Reversal practice for letters and numbers.
3Start at the left
Words on lines, starting at the left margin.
When to ask for help
Ask the teacher or an educational psychologist if reversals are still frequent after about age 7 and reading and spelling are also much harder than for classmates.
These worksheets are practice materials, not a diagnosis or a treatment. Every child develops at their own pace. If you are worried, talk to your child’s teacher, doctor or a specialist.
Is mirror writing a sign of dyslexia?
Related packs
Sources
The LetterSchool app
Between worksheets: practise in the app
The same letter shapes as this sheet, with instant feedback on every line, animations and stars. Children play, and learn the right formation.