Mirror image of letters created by kids is a cause of concern for many parents. Have a quick look at the causes for mirror writing in kids and tips for dealing with it.Producing words, sentences and letters in opposite or reverse direction is called mirror writing. This style of writing looks correct when viewed in a mirror. There are some people who mirror write intentionally and have elevated this style into an art. There are others who do it after being affected by nerve diseases or after suffering from brain damage. In kids however mirror writing can be a completely normal phase in the early learning years. In this articleSpontaneous Mirror Letters Written By KidsReasons Underlying Mirror WritingMyths about Mirror WritingHow to Handle Mirror WritingTeaching DirectionSpontaneous Mirror Letters Written By KidsNursery school teachers or primary school teachers often vouch for the fact that many kids mirror write when they are learning the skill of writing. Apart from the common confusion between actual mirror image letters like b and d, kids can mirror write any and every letter spontaneously. It is a common phenomenon for a kid to neatly print out names, phrases and even sentences neatly backwards. Some characters including j and 3 are more likely to be written backwards.Reasons Underlying Mirror Writing Child behaviour specialists say that most children extract the information that letters should face to the right and then apply this rule on every character. When a child learns to write the first impulse is to memorise the shape of the letter and then move on to the direction analysis. Mirror writing in childhood is more of a general learning process than a definite error.Myths about Mirror WritingThere are many myths surrounding the phenomenon of mirror writing in kids and correct information can help dispel them. Slow intellectual development is believed to be connected to mirror writing but extensive research shows that this is not true. The formation or presence of mental defects is also not linked to mirror writing in any way. Mirror writing has a strong correlation with age and none with the intellectual prowess. There is no truth in the myth that left handers are more apt to practice mirror writing.How to Handle Mirror WritingAs already mentioned in 70% of cases mirror writing is just a transitional phase between no writing and correct writing. Intervention measures are usually not required apart from usual class directions and corrections in class work and homework. Some kids are slower than others in learning up directions of letters. However, if your child persists in mirror writing even above the age of 8 then you should contact a learning behaviour specialist. There are speciality games and puzzles which are meant for kids to UN-learn their habit of mirror writing. There is about 10% of chance that a kid who mirror writes could be Dyslexic and even then Dyslexia is an entirely treatable condition.Teaching DirectionMirror writing is an aberration of the motor and spatial function in kids and it indicates that there is difficulty in understanding directions. In many therapist clinics a common exercise that teaches direction in a non obtrusive way is practiced. Kids are given stickers which they have to put on top of their heads, hands, knees, foot etc. Gradually the therapist starts giving directions like “above”, “under” or “top”. When kids start understanding directionality they will gradually learn that writing in English is done from left to right and from the top to bottom.If you are a parent whose kid mirror writes then be aware of the fact that this is not a mental disease or a learning disorder but just a natural phase which your kid will probably outgrow in a couple of years. Be supportive of your child and never express at any point that “there is something wrong with you”. Parental support is monumentally important when it comes to curing the habit of mirror writing.Why do kids create mirror image of letters while writing? How to correct mirror writing in children? Is mirror writing a sign of learning disorder in children? Discuss here.
Mirror image of letters created by kids is a cause of concern for many parents. Have a quick look at the causes for mirror writing in kids and tips for dealing with it.Producing words, sentences and letters in opposite or reverse direction is called mirror writing. This style of writing looks correct when viewed in a mirror. There are some people who mirror write intentionally and have elevated this style into an art. There are others who do it after being affected by nerve diseases or after suffering from brain damage. In kids however mirror writing can be a completely normal phase in the early learning years.
Spontaneous Mirror Letters Written By Kids
Nursery
school teachers or primary school teachers often vouch for the fact that many kids mirror write when they are learning the skill of writing. Apart from the common confusion between actual mirror image letters like b and d, kids can mirror write any and every letter spontaneously. It is a common phenomenon for a kid to neatly print out names, phrases and even sentences neatly backwards. Some characters including j and 3 are more likely to be written backwards.
Reasons Underlying Mirror Writing
Child behaviour specialists say that most children extract the information that letters should face to the right and then apply this rule on every character. When a child learns to write the first impulse is to memorise the shape of the letter and then move on to the direction analysis. Mirror writing in childhood is more of a general learning process than a definite error.
Myths about Mirror Writing
There are many myths surrounding the phenomenon of mirror writing in kids and correct information can help dispel them. Slow
intellectual development is believed to be connected to mirror writing but extensive research shows that this is not true. The formation or presence of mental defects is also not linked to mirror writing in any way. Mirror writing has a strong correlation with age and none with the intellectual prowess. There is no truth in the myth that left handers are more apt to practice mirror writing.
How to Handle Mirror Writing
As already mentioned in 70% of cases mirror writing is just a transitional phase between no writing and correct writing. Intervention measures are usually not required apart from usual class directions and corrections in class work and homework. Some kids are slower than others in learning up directions of letters. However, if your child persists in mirror writing even above the age of 8 then you should contact a learning behaviour specialist. There are speciality games and puzzles which are meant for kids to UN-learn their habit of mirror writing. There is about 10% of chance that a kid who mirror writes could be Dyslexic and even then
Dyslexia is an entirely treatable condition.
Teaching Direction
Mirror writing is an aberration of the motor and spatial function in kids and it indicates that there is difficulty in understanding directions. In many therapist clinics a common exercise that teaches direction in a non obtrusive way is practiced. Kids are given stickers which they have to put on top of their heads, hands, knees, foot etc. Gradually the therapist starts giving directions like “above”, “under” or “top”. When kids start understanding directionality they will gradually learn that writing in English is done from left to right and from the top to bottom.
If you are a parent whose kid mirror writes then be aware of the fact that this is not a mental disease or a
learning disorder but just a natural phase which your kid will probably outgrow in a couple of years. Be supportive of your child and never express at any point that “there is something wrong with you”. Parental support is monumentally important when it comes to curing the habit of mirror writing.
Why do kids create mirror image of letters while writing? How to correct mirror writing in children? Is mirror writing a sign of learning disorder in children? Discuss here.
