Learning to write

Mixing up b and d at 7: a calm 10-minute routine

For parents of children aged 6 to 9 · 6 minute read

Hans kneels beside Milo, Issey and Max, who stand on stone blocks carved with the letters A, L and L, a page from The Magic Sword.
The Three Letters, from The Magic Sword.

If your child mixes up b and d at 7, that is common and usually fades with practice. A calm, 10-minute routine at home that teaches each letter from the right starting point is often the most useful thing you can do.

Why does my child mix up b and d?

The two letters are the same shape turned around. Each one is a round part and a tall stick. The only difference is which side the stick is on.

In daily life, direction rarely matters. A cup is still a cup when the handle points left. Letters break that rule, and children need time and practice to accept it.

Many children learn b and d as pictures to copy, not as movements to make. If the starting point changes each time, the letter can come out either way round. When the movement is the same every time, the hand starts to remember the direction for them.

Is it normal to mix up b and d at 7?

Yes, for many children it is. Reversing letters is a normal part of learning to write. Children's therapy advice from Berkshire Healthcare NHS also describes reversing letters and numbers as a common part of learning to write (Berkshire Healthcare NHS).

Reversals on their own are not a sign of dyslexia. What matters more is the whole picture: how your child is reading, spelling and getting on in class.

So if your child is in Year 2 and still swaps b and d now and then, there is no need to worry.

How is each letter formed?

The two letters start in different places and move in different ways.

b starts with the stick. Start at the top. Pull a long, straight line down. Without lifting the pencil, go back up a little way and push round to the right to make the belly. You can say it out loud: "Down the stick, up and round."

d starts with the round part. It begins like a c. Start just below the top line, go round to the left like a c, then go up high and come straight down for the stick. Say: "Round like c, up tall, down."

Notice the difference. For b, the stick comes first. For d, the round part comes first. If your child's school uses a particular handwriting scheme, ask the class teacher which words they use, so home and school sound the same.

It also helps to link d to letters your child already knows well. c, a, d, g and o all start with the same round movement. If they can write a confident c, they are most of the way to a d.

What helps at home?

A few calm habits, repeated often, do most of the work.

The "bed" picture. Write the word bed in lowercase. The b and d form the two ends of a bed, with the e as the mattress in between. The b is the headboard on the left and the d is the footboard on the right.

Teach one letter first. It often helps to get one letter secure before working on the other. Start with b, because the stick comes first and that is easy to see. Once b feels steady, add d.

Use more than one sense. Try tracing letters on fine sandpaper, on a chalkboard, in a tray of salt or in playdough, using the same order of movements your child uses to write. You can also trace on your child's back and let them guess.

Practise on an upright surface. A whiteboard, a window or paper taped to the fridge all work. Big movements make the direction easier to feel.

If it happens mid-homework. Do not rub it out. Put a small dot where the letter should start, point to it and say the script. Your child writes the letter again next to the first one. Seeing both side by side helps them notice the difference.

Keep it short and positive. Ten minutes most days beats one long session. If you correct a reversal, do it quietly: "Let's check with our bed," and move on.

Read together. Real words show b and d the right way round, again and again. You can find stories for children aged 6 to 9 in our library, and the games give more gentle letter practice.

What if my child is learning to read in two languages?

Some children read in both English and Norwegian. The letters b and d look the same and are written the same way in both languages. One formation script and one memory trick are enough.

Choose a trick that travels. The bed picture only works in English. The fist trick works in any language: make two fists with thumbs up and knuckles facing each other. The left hand makes a b and the right hand makes a d.

Practise with words your child knows in each language, such as bed and bil, or dog and dør. Keep the spoken script in the language you use at home.

About 10 minutes

Try it tonight

This takes about 10 minutes. You will need paper, a pencil, a tray with a thin layer of salt or flour, and a book your child likes.

  1. Warm up (1 minute). Your child draws big circles and long lines in the air with their whole arm.
  2. Make the bed (2 minutes). Write bed together in large letters. Talk about the headboard and the footboard. Let your child draw a small pillow on the b end.
  3. Trace b in the tray (2 minutes). Say "down the stick, up and round" as your child traces b with one finger. Do it five times, then smooth the tray.
  4. Trace d in the tray (2 minutes). Say "round like c, up tall, down." Do it five times.
  5. Write three words (2 minutes). On paper, your child writes bed, bad and dad. They check each one against the bed picture.
  6. Letter hunt (1 minute). Open a book and look for b and d together. In the read-along edition of The Magic Sword, one page shows Milo, Issey and Max standing on stone blocks carved with A-L-L. Spot letters there, then find a b or a d in the text.

Stop while it still feels easy. Repeat for a week, then look back at the first page together.

When should I talk to the teacher?

Talk to the class teacher if your child still reverses b and d often at around 8, and if they also find reading hard, struggle to remember letter sounds, or are becoming upset about writing. It is also worth speaking to a teacher or a health professional if you see no improvement after trying these strategies for a while.

You can also speak to the school nurse, or ask about a referral to a specialist. For more ideas on working with school, see our school pages.

More calm, practical guides are in the Hanseby Journal.

FAQ

Is mixing up b and d at 7 a sign of dyslexia?

Not on its own. Reversals are common while children learn to write. Dyslexia is about much more than letter direction, so look at the whole picture and talk to the class teacher if you have concerns.

Should I correct every reversal?

No. Correct gently and not too often. Point to the bed picture and let your child fix it themselves. Too much correction can make writing feel stressful.

What if my child also reverses numbers?

That is also common, especially with 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The same approach works: the right starting point, multisensory tracing and short, regular practice.

Practise with Milo, Issey and Max.

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