Q: My 3-year-old mixes up b's and d's. Is that normal?

Children who are just beginning to identify and write letters often confuse b, d, p, and q, reversing letters that share similar visual characteristics. Some children may continue to reverse letters into the second grade. Oftentimes, letter reversals subside as children get more reading and writing experience and build their awareness of left and right. With a child as young as age three, the best course of action is to simply keep on reading and providing plenty of opportunities for your child to interact with letters and recognize different letter shapes. As your child begins to write, you can address the letter reversal issue by practicing correct letter formation and pointing out how the “belly” on the letter b points in a different direction as the belly on the letter d.