My four year old daughter sometimes writes her name completely backwards. Should I be worried?

Question

Sometimes she writes it just fine. Other times it is written from right to left with all of the letters backwards, in other words, it would be perfect if you read it in a mirror. Is this normal? I know sometimes kids write a letter or two backwards but this is completely backwards. Should I be worried about dislexia.

She is left handed. I never thought of the possibility of that being a factor.

Answer 1

My son used to do the same when he was also four years old. He's not left handed and he's not dislexic either. Now he's six and he has learned how to write his name the correct way. I guess his brain just had to mature a little bit.

Everyone makes mistakes... Specially when learning a new task, such as writing. Keep an eye to see if she makes improvements but for now I wouldn't worry too much.

I have kept a few of his "mispelled" attempts as part of his baby memory book. I think it's precious!!

Give her some time and good luck!

Answer 2

my three year old does this and I have been told to just show her the right way and not to worry till she is 6. My daughter will sometimes starts on the wrong side of the paper and everything is mirror image. so it sounds about the same. ask your pediatrician but I would say not to worry right now.
My daughter is also left handed. I did think about that since she starts on the wrong side of the paper and that the only time she writes it backwards or mirror image

Answer 3

My daughter did the same thing at that age. I thought it was quite clever. When she started from the right hand side of the paper, she wrote it from right to left-mirror image. When she started on the left side of the paper, she wrote it perfectly. I figured since she could write it correctly, no need to worry. I thought she was 'gifted'. I know I would have a very difficult time writing that way. It was no effort for her.

Don't worry. :) That's not dyslexia.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot to tell you-my daughter has grown up to be a mechanical engineer with a great position. ;) (and she's right handed)

Answer 4

No. If she can write normally with ease, then her being able to accurately write backwards is simply a cognitive skill. Remember to reassure her that she should write correctly, but let her express her backwards writing skill. If you see signs of reading difficulty, poor communication, or comprehension then worry. Until then, ask her if she prefers writing backwards more then forwards, ask her why, ask her which is easier. these are thigns oyu need to know. Also, a suggestion to all parents out there, pick up a childrens psychology book and read it. There are things you need to know that experience won't teach you.

Answer 5

I wouldn't be too worried about it. My little brother is 6 and is in kindergarten. Sometimes when I go to his school, there are pictures from all of his classmates' work on the walls. Almost all of their names are messed up and everything. Besides, if your daughter is just writing her name weird sometimes, then its ok. I would be worried about dislexia IF she ALWAYs wrote her name funny. Just give it a little while and if it gets worse than take her to some sort of docter that can tell. Otherwise, if it's just sometimes, leave her be and just correct her on her mistakes.

Answer 6

I am in no way an expert but probably at her age it is not too bad but I had a niece that did that when she started to school and she did have dislexia and with just a little training she was able to do it right. She is now in college and doing fine.

Answer 7

She might have dyslexia but if so, don't get worried. When you have dyslexia, you just get things confused a little when you see letters and numbers, and you have a "helper" when you have dyslexia and most cases of dyslexia will fade with help from a Dyslexic Councilor. Or it might be a fase too. Like one of those cute kid stories you share when she grows up at a sleepover like, "When I was little, i used to write backwards sometimes!!" So dont worry and she probably dosent have it because its not consistant.

Answer 8

Experimenting with letters is quite usual at this stage - and the fact that she writes whole words from left to right shows that she understands the concept of a word. Leonardo da Vinci used to write in this manner as well. Does she write other words in reverse, or only her name?

Answer 9

My daughter did this when she was 4! I was utterly amazed until her preschool teacher told me that it was pretty normal and nothing to worry about. She is right handed so I don't think that has any bearing at all. Your daughter is progressing normally if she is writing her name backwards or/and forwards:)

Answer 10

She's still learning to write and kids her age like to experiment with writing and don't necessarily follow the rules. If she's still doing it in like 2nd grade it'll be an issue. Don't listen to people who tell you to make her switch hands. Our brains are wired either left handed or right handed. It messes you up to be forced to use the other hand.