b And d Reversal: Why Children Mix Them Up And How To Fix It

See How b And d Start Differently

Is It Normal To Confuse b And d?

Yes. Confusing b and d is one of the most common reversals. Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust lists b and d among the letters children commonly reverse while learning to write, and Dyslexia UK says it is normal for children to confuse mirrored letters up to age 7 or 8. See letter reversals for the other common ones.

Why Do Children Mix Up b And d?

Children mix up b and d because the two letters are mirror images. For most objects, a cup facing left is still a cup, so a young brain treats direction as unimportant. Letters are among the first things where direction changes the meaning.

If both letters are taught as "a stick and a circle", the only difference is which side the circle goes, which is exactly the part children find hard. Teaching them as two different movements removes that problem.

How Do You Stop b And d Reversals?

Teach b and d in different letter families, so each has its own starting movement.

1. Teach d with the curly caterpillar letters. It starts like c, then goes up tall and back down. See curly caterpillar letters.
2. Teach b with the one-armed robot letters. It starts with a tall stick, like h, then goes back up and round. See one-armed robot letters.
3. Say the start aloud. "d, curly c first." "b, tall stick first."
4. Practise one letter at a time. Secure d first, then add b. Dyslexia UK suggests teaching one letter well before introducing its mirror image.
5. Mix them only when both are secure. Play the "b or d?" game, where the class calls the letter from its first stroke.

Tracing on sandpaper, playdough or a chalkboard, the same way the letter is written, also helps, according to Berkshire NHS advice.

Does The "Bed" Trick Work?

The "bed" trick helps some children check which letter is which when reading, but it does not teach the writing movement, so it works best alongside the start-point rule. In the trick, the word "bed" looks like a bed, with b as the headboard and d as the footboard.

What If My Child Confuses b And d When Reading?

Reading confusion usually eases as the writing movements become automatic. A quick check helps in the meantime: ask your child to write the letter with their finger in the air, starting where it starts. The start tells them which letter it is.

Does Confusing b And d Mean Dyslexia?

No. Confusing b and d on its own does not mean a child has dyslexia. The NHS list of dyslexia signs does not include letter reversals. It lists reading below the expected level, slow and hesitant reading aloud, and messy writing with many spelling mistakes. If you are worried about reading and spelling, talk to the class teacher or the school's SENCo.