Early Signs of Dyslexia: What Parents Need To Know
Have you noticed your child mixing up letters like "b" and "d"? You might be wondering if this is normal or something to be concerned about. Let’s dive into it!
Letter reversals are a common part of early literacy development, but when should you start paying closer attention? We’ll talk about what’s typical, when it could be a sign of something more, and how you can support your child through it all.
Are you new here? Welcome! I’m Miss Beth, the founder of Big City Readers—a different kind of early childhood development. I believe children need flexibility and fun to engage and grow as readers. Not all kids learn from sitting at a desk, and my job as an educator is to find the best solution for every child. I use the 5 building blocks of early literacy: read, write, sing, talk, and play, along with the Orton-Gillingham method, which taps into the three learning pathways—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about letter reversals, what early signs of dyslexia look like, and how you can help your child build strong reading skills they will carry for the rest of their lives.
The Importance of Early Literacy
Reading is one of the most important skills a child will learn, and starting early can make a big difference. Early literacy helps build the foundation for future academic success. However, every child learns at their own pace, and some may face challenges like dyslexia that make reading more difficult. The key is to recognize potential signs early and provide the right support.
If you’re looking to begin your child’s reading journey as a family, but are unsure of where to start, I HIGHLY recommend checking out my parent masterclass: Raising Readers! This starter course is designed to help reading feel fun and easy to teach because YOU are equipped with all the knowledge, I want to help you create a strong foundation for success.
Here’s who this workshop is perfect for:
Parents who want reading to feel fun and easy—because you’ll be equipped with the tools and knowledge you need.
Teachers who want lessons rooted in science-backed research—no more late-night Googling for tips or tricks.
Homeschool parents, tutors, or SLPs ready to dive into a proven approach to reading instruction.
Anyone who wants a comprehensive list of reading activities to use at home or in the classroom.
Parents who want to identify quality reading curricula and know what to look for when supporting their child’s learning.
What Are Letter Reversals?
Letter reversals happen when children write letters backward or upside down. For example, they might confuse "b" with "d" or "p" with "q." This is often called mirror writing. It’s a normal part of learning to write and is especially common in children up until around age 7. At this stage, kids are still developing their visual-motor skills and learning how to recognize and form letters.
Why Do Letter Reversals Happen?
When children are first learning to read and write, letters are just shapes to them. They haven’t yet attached meaning to these shapes, so it’s easy for them to mix up letters that look similar. Think about it—letters like "b," "d," "p," and "q" are essentially the same shape with different orientations. It takes time for kids to store these differences in their long-term memory.
When Do Letter Reversals Become a Cause for Concern?
While letter reversals are normal in younger children, they should start to fade by the end of second grade. If your child is still reversing letters beyond this point or struggles with other reading difficulties—like sounding out words or remembering letter sounds—it might be time to consider further evaluation. Persistent letter reversals could be one sign of dyslexia, but it’s important not to jump to conclusions too quickly.
Is It Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is more than just reversing letters. It’s a learning difference that affects how the brain processes language, making it hard for children to connect letters with sounds. Some early signs include difficulty learning letter names and sounds, trouble blending sounds into words and avoiding reading altogether. If these challenges persist despite extra practice, I highly recommend talking further with your child’s teacher or pediatrician, and potentially seeking an assessment from a specialist.
How To Support Your Child's Reading Success
Regardless of where your child is at in their reading journey (whether just starting, navigating bumps in the road, or smooth sailing), there are always ways to continue to support your child’s reading success! Here are some tips I always recommend to both teachers and parents:
Build Phonological Awareness:
Phonological awareness is one of those terms that might sound a little intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple—and super important! It’s all about your child’s ability to hear and play with the sounds in words. Think of it as the foundation for learning to read. Before kids can match letters to sounds, they need to be able to break words apart into smaller sounds and put them back together. For example, recognizing that "cat" is made up of three sounds: /k/ /a/ /t/.
The best part? You can help build this skill through fun, everyday activities! Try playing sound games like clapping out syllables in words or coming up with rhyming pairs (like "hat" and "bat"). These simple exercises can make a huge difference in setting your child up for reading success later on.
If you’re curious to learn more about phonological awareness and its foundation for reading, check out my post: Phonological Awareness vs Phonics: What Is The Difference?
Use Explicit Instruction:
Children with dyslexia often need a little extra help when it comes to learning how to read, and that’s where systematic phonics-based instruction comes in. This type of teaching focuses on breaking down the relationship between letters and sounds in a clear, step-by-step way. It’s not about guessing or memorizing words—it’s about giving kids the tools to decode words on their own.
If your child isn’t getting this kind of instruction at school, it might be worth looking into a tutor or program that specializes in phonics-based learning. The key is consistency and structure, so children can build their reading skills one step at a time.
Try Multisensory Learning:
Multisensory techniques are a game changer when it comes to helping kids learn, especially those who might be struggling with reading. These methods engage multiple senses at the same time—sight, touch, and hearing—to make learning more interactive and memorable. Instead of just looking at letters on a page, kids can feel them, see them, and hear the sounds they make all at once.
For example, you could have your child trace letters in sand or shaving cream while saying the sound out loud. This simple activity helps reinforce the connection between what the letter looks like, how it feels to write it, and the sound it makes. The more senses are involved, the more likely the information will stick! It’s a fun and effective way to build stronger reading skills, especially for kids who need a little extra support.
Develop Fine Motor Skills:
Fine motor skills are the unsung heroes of writing readiness! These are the small muscle movements—like hand-eye coordination—that help kids control a pencil and form letters properly. Writing can feel like a real challenge for little ones without strong fine motor skills.
The good news? You can easily help your child strengthen these muscles through fun, everyday activities. Things like cutting with scissors, threading beads, or even squishing and molding playdough are all great ways to build up those tiny muscles in their hands. Over time, these activities will improve their ability to hold a pencil and form letters more easily. It’s all about giving them the tools they need to feel confident when they start writing!
The Biggest Takeaway: Stay Calm but Stay Informed. You BOTH Can Do This!
What I recommend to parents and teachers is this: Do not panic if your child is reversing letters! It’s part of the process. But also remember the importance of staying informed as a parent. If you notice other signs along with letter reversals—like difficulty remembering sounds or avoiding reading—it’s worth keeping an eye on things. The earlier you catch potential issues like dyslexia, the better chance your child has at thriving.
The best thing to do right now is to focus on building strong foundational skills to help set your child up for reading success. And if letter reversals stick around longer than expected? Don’t hesitate to seek out additional support—it could make all the difference in helping your child become a confident reader!
Do you have any questions on letter reversals and how they can potentially relate to early signs of dyslexia? Please let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest child development tips for families, check out my recent posts:
