Why does our son reverse letters?

Our son, age 7, reverses letters when writing. We fitted him with glasses, but the reversals continue. Could he have dyslexia? What should we do?

It’s not uncommon for children at ages 7, 8, or 9 to reverse letters while writing.

Dr. Martha Weber, an education professor at Bowling Green State University, coined a term for this in 1972: the “Moma” concept. It illustrates the relationship between how young children perceive their world, and why they reverse letters while learning how to write.

The concept is explained through how children see their mothers. A child who sees his mother dressed up and wearing makeup for a Friday night out, or wearing a bathrobe, hair curlers, and facial mask on Saturday recognizes that, no matter how different she may look, she is still his mother. Most young children who reverse letters do so, because although the letters may look different, to these kids, they’re still the same. (This is known as form constancy.)

No wonder kids question our adult level-headedness when we tell them that merely moving, what looks to them like a “stick,” from one side of a circle to the other, creates a totally different concept (a letter “b” becoming a “d”). And, how about the confusing visual similarities between p-q, m-w, M-W, m-n, or h-n?

Even if eyeglasses enable the information to enter your son’s brain at 20-20, he will draw upon his belief system to logically misinterpret the incoming visual information. For now, I’d advise not searching for other causes, such as dyslexia, to explain the letter reversals. Primary teachers have witnessed this problem work itself out most of the time. For now, just blame it on “Moma.”

Robert Morton, MEd, EdS has retired from his positions as school psychologist and adjunct professor in the School of Leadership and Policy Studies at Bowling Green State University, in Ohio. Contact him at [email protected].

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center

<div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Established by the United Methodist Church in 1947, Quinipet is built upon the rocks of Faith, Courage, Love, Humility and Honesty; creating a foundation that welcomes campers from all walks of life, faiths, and backgrounds.</span></span></strong><br /><br style="color: #7b8c89; font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;" /><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">​</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: #ffffff;">Whether you come for one week or all summer long, you will make new friends, learn and grow, laugh a LOT, and enjoy the beautiful natural environment of Shelter Island. </span><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quinipet has all the fun of a traditional Christian summer camp - surrounded by water!</span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Week-Long Sessions begin the week of July 4, 2021:</span></span></strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <ul> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff; color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Day Camp (ages 5-15) Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm</span></span></strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Community Sailing (ages 9-15) Monday-Friday, 9-12 or 1-4</strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Traditional Overnight Camp (ages 7-17) Sunday Afternoon - Saturday Morning</strong></li> <li style="margin-left: 15px;"><strong>Sailing Overnight Camp (ages 9-17) <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday Afternoon - Saturday Morning</span></strong></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Daily Day Camp transportation options from the north (Greenport) & south (North Haven/Sag Harbor) forks! </strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>In-person Open Houses this April and May!</strong></div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>For Dates & Rates and Online Registration visit us at Quinipet.org</strong></div>

Steve & Kate's Camp

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you trust kids, they trust themselves.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s has put kids in charge of their own learning experience. As they try, fail, and learn on their own, they learn to trust their own judgment, and tackle the challenges of an ever changing world with creativity and confidence.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Campers choose from a variety of activities in real-time including, sewing, stop-motion animation, music, coding, sports & rec, makers crafts, baking, & more. They'll decide what they want to do, and for how long. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This summer families can buy as many days as they’d like, and use them at any time. No weekly reservations required–just show up! Or, if you need more care, purchase a Summer Pass, which covers the whole season. If for any reason your plans change, they’ll automatically refund any unused Passes in full at summer’s end. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ages: 4–12 | Lunch, snacks, and all hours (8am–6pm) included. </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2024 Locations:</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-9dc18612-7fff-b467-ff33-53b9bef5d5bf"></span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooklyn–Cobble Hill</span></h2> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooklyn Heights Montessori School, 185 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY</span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooklyn–Crown Heights</span></h2> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">German School Brooklyn, 760 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, NY</span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manhattan–Upper West Side</span></h2> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trevor Day School - Lower School, 1 W 88th St., New York, NY</span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manhattan–Upper East Side</span></h2> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trevor Day School - Upper School, 312 E 95th St., New York, NY</span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manhattan–West Village</span></h2> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Academy of St. Joseph - 111 Washington Place, New York, NY</span></p> <h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manhattan–Lower Manhattan</span></h2> <p style="letter-spacing: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: Assistant, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cd32a16-7fff-4052-9765-1e2d453d1251"></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bright Horizons @ 90 Washington on West, 52 West St., New York, NY</span></p>

Adirondack Camp

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Established in 1904, Adirondack Camp is a traditional, overnight co-ed camp for boys and girls ages 7 to 16 located on world-famous Lake George in beautiful Upstate New York.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to one of the best and oldest traditional overnight summer camps in the United States. For over a century, Adirondack Camp has been an extraordinary place where unforgettable memories, bold hearts, and lifelong friendships are made. Our co-ed camp is situated on a gorgeous, private peninsula with 1.8 miles of Lake George shoreline in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• Co-ed sleepaway for ages 7-16</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• 30+ activities across land, water, and the Arts</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• Rustic, open-air cabins</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• 3:1 Camper-to-counselor ratio</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• Amazing wilderness trips program</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• Global Community: Campers and staff from around the world!</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• A Century-Old, Generational Color War</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• 4-, 6-, and 8-week sessions</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• 2-week option for first-timers, ages 7-9</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For dates + rates and more info, please visit </span><a style="text-decoration-line: none;" href="https://www.adirondackcamp.com/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">AdirondackCamp.com</span></a></p>