Dear Anonymous,

How old is your child? Depending upon the age of your child, this might be behavior that is typical of the age or it might signal an underlying problem. If your child is in preschool, I would talk with your child's preschool teacher about their perceptions and recommendations. Some of this is certainly age-appropriate at this age.

However, if your child is in elementary school, there is a little more cause for concern. Similarly, I would approach your child's teacher and ask for their advice.

Regardless, your child may be eligible for free testing through the school or school district (if they are in preschool). However, there generally needs to be some kind of referral (or you can request it of the special eduational administrator). I have included a link to a sample letter requesting the evaluation below.


Warm regards,

Laura Kauffman, Ph.D.

In first grade, it is common to see students transpose letters and numbers in writing.  You may even see students call out a d when they see a b on flash cards or other letters.  The letters you've mentioned seem to be the most common and also includes q.

It's not anything you should be worried about, it is just something that you will want to practice with your child.  Through practice, this will improve but even later, you may still see occasionally that your child will write a letter backwards (it is common).  As far as left side or right side-again is just a matter of practice.  I've seen teachers place stickers on one hand or another to indicate which to use.  To make it simple for your child, for instance, if he is right handed, remind him that how he can remember which is which, is he writes with his right hand or vice versa.  

I've included a couple links for you, the first is a worksheet for left/right practice and the second is to a site where others have the same concerns as you.  It mentions that it is very common with children to do just as you have described and especially with boys, it also mentions that boys may continue this until age 9 easily.  If your child was showing signs of dyslexia, there would be many other indications that your teacher would have most likely have noticed.

Hope this helps!