What Is Mirror Writing In Children And What To Do With This

Imagine this scenario: you open your first-grader’s notebook and find scrawls that defy deciphering. Only the skills of a cryptographer seem up to the task of kids writing mirror image letters. The initial emotion oscillates between surprise and shock. What's going on? Why are kids crafting mirror image letters?

In this article, we'll delve into the roots of mirror writing in children and offer guidance on how to address it when a child writes numbers in this mirrored fashion.

The essence of mirror writing in children

Mirror writing in children encompasses writing numbers in reverse order: from right to left. This phenomenon is known as "Leonardo's handwriting."

The origin of this practice dates back to the Italian artist, sculptor, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. In a bid to safeguard his diaries and descriptions of inventions from potential theft, he mirrored each letter on paper. This intricate technique rendered the text nearly unintelligible to the untrained eye. Another perspective suggests that Leonardo, being left-handed, found mirrored writing more comfortable.

This distinctive mirror writing child phenomenon typically emerges when children are navigating the intricacies of letter and number formation, usually around ages 4 to 5.

Moreover, children engaging in kids’ mirror writing may exhibit a duality of handedness – adept with both their right and left hands. The execution of mirror writing child appears seamless and instinctive, indicating it's a natural phase in handwriting development.

However, in adults mirror writing can indicate underlying brain pathologies. It may be connected to conditions such as schizophrenia, focal cerebral cortex alterations, epilepsy, or mental disorders, prompting an individual to abruptly adopt mirror writing.

Also: Parenting a Child with ADHD: How to Deal with Them

Unveiling the genesis of mirror writing in children

Why do children resort to mirror writing? Below the age of 7, children’s right hemispheres are particularly active. They perceive their surroundings from right to left, which influences how they depict symbols on paper. Hence, there's no need to fret if a 4- to 5-year-old child writes from right to left. This is a transient phase. As they enter school or preparatory courses, their left hemispheres gain prominence, leading to more accurate writing habits.

Nevertheless, situations arise where, between ages 7 and 9, the pattern persists and a child continues to write numbers in a mirrored manner. What other factors contribute to a child's mirror writing? There's always an underlying reason:

1. A child is left-handed. Writing in reverse is more intuitive (and logical) for left-handed individuals. It's also simpler for them to number lines from the bottom up and inscribe numbers “backwards.”

2. A child has optic dysgraphia. This speech therapy diagnosis denotes difficulty in recognizing written language. The child might depict words in a manner that aligns with their perception.

3. A child grapples with spatial thinking. This can be assessed: if a 4- to 5-year-old child confuses left and right, improperly uses prepositions in spoken language, and struggles with concepts of size and shape, their spatial thinking might be impaired. They might not discern the subtleties (similarities and disparities) among letters.

4. A child was introduced to writing prematurely. An unintended consequence of early childhood development. Mastery in treating letters as graphic symbols is typically achieved around ages 6 to 7. Until then, children may regard letters as images.

5. A child has neurological anomalies: speech delays, disorders in the musculoskeletal system, epileptic conditions.

6. A child is not yet primed for visual analysis and synthesis – pivotal skills that aid in recalling letter outlines and subsequently recognizing them (integral to the reading process).

Also: Indigo Children: Who Are They and What to Do with Them

Addressing mirror image letters in your children

What steps should parents take upon identifying mirror writing in children? Begin by resisting panic and refraining from admonishing the child. The child's unique interpretation of letters is not their fault.

As a precaution, consult a neurologist. The assessment will either rule out organic brain and nervous system pathologies or prompt further comprehensive testing. Based on the findings, you can gauge the extent of the issue and collaborate with specialists to devise an action plan.

In the absence of significant issues, your next course of action involves consulting a speech pathologist who specializes in dysgraphia. This assistance involves collaborating with you, the parents, rather than substituting for you. As a result, assignments aimed at rectifying "Leonardo's handwriting" are not only advisable but imperative.

Emphasize the cultivation of spatial thinking. It's possible that your child mirrors numbers and letters due to recurring confusion between right and left.

Conduct an exercise: take your child's right hand and utter, "I'm holding your right hand." Then, inquire about the location of their left hand. Repeat this after a few minutes. This practice will enable your child to confidently distinguish between their right and left limbs. Apply this technique to their eyes, body sides, and legs.

In this section, we've compiled recommendations for parents grappling with children producing mirror image letters.

1. Fostering spatial thinking

Accurate assessment of object locations within their surrounding space is pivotal for accurate writing. Training for this skill is straightforward. Stand with your child at a doorway and describe the positions of objects. For instance, elucidate that the closet is to the right of the window, while the bed resides on the left side of the dresser. Then pose questions like, "Where is the chair in relation to...?" As you progress, introduce more intricate queries like, "Where's the ball?" Success in these exercises indicates advancements in spatial thinking development.

2. Mastery in letters and numbers

Another valuable suggestion for parents dealing with mirror writing children involves revisiting the basics if you've already introduced reading and writing. However, tweak your approach slightly. Stencils can prove advantageous – ask your child to outline words using them. Alternatively, construct words from cubes. Though this might seem like a regression, your goal is to correct kids' writing mirror image habits. Engage in activities that necessitate letter modification to achieve this objective.

For instance, jot down the letter "m" on a piece of paper and ask your child to append the letter "o" to its right. Repeat both steps – this yields the word "mother." This vividly demonstrates left-to-right writing. You can perform the reverse as well. This yields "rehtom" – an unintelligible and nonexistent sequence of letters. This exercise helps your child grasp the necessity of proper writing for clarity.

3. Seeking symmetry

This advice proves beneficial for parents dealing with children grappling with mirror writing. Initiate the learning process with symmetrical letters and numbers that appear identical when written in either their direct or mirrored forms (such as A, O, H, M, numbers 0 and 8).

Gradually transition to more intricate letters – those that are often misspelled (like Z, K, B, Z). Utilize associations to help your child memorize the correct form of these letters. For instance, envision these as "bugs" that deviate from the norm, always facing the opposite direction compared to the other letters in a word.

The most challenging letters are B, S, D, P, and others in this category. These letters require memorization. However, here's a helpful trick: deconstruct each letter into distinct elements and assign an association to each element. For instance, envision D as a donut and S as a snowman.

Let your imagination run wild, invent creative associations and engaging tasks that facilitate your child's mastery of proper spelling and correction of mirror handwriting. Employ a comprehensive approach involving both home exercises and collaboration with a speech therapist. This combined strategy will swiftly resolve this issue.

Remember, the journey to rectify mirror writing isn't merely about transforming a skill; it's about nurturing the development of spatial cognition and linguistic aptitude. Your dedicated efforts, in tandem with professional guidance, will undoubtedly guide your child toward effective and coherent writing.