Helping Our Tamariki with b/d Confusion: Strategies That Work

As part of my ongoing teaching inquiry into how we support early literacy—especially for those tamariki who need a bit more time—I came across this really helpful article from All About Learning Press that offers clear, simple strategies to help children who confuse b and d.

Let’s be honest—this is super common and very normal for our 5- and 6-year-olds. But for some, it sticks around longer and can start to impact confidence, writing fluency, and reading accuracy.

What’s in the Article?

The blog post outlines:

• Why letter reversals are a developmental stage, not a sign of dyslexia on their own.
• Fun, hands-on strategies to help children lock in correct b/d formation.
• Practical tools that both ECE and NE teachers can easily integrate into their day.
• One of my favourites from the list is the “bed” trick—using both hands to form the shape of a bed (with thumbs up) to remind kids that b comes before d. It's kinaesthetic, memorable, and easy to teach.
• Another great one is using visual mnemonics and consistent language when forming the letters—like always saying “bat before ball” for the letter b, and “doorknob then door” for d.

Why This Matters for My Inquiry

As I’ve been looking into supporting students who are not quite ‘school ready’, letter formation and orientation is one of the areas that keeps popping up. For some children, these reversals are more than just a hiccup—they become a source of frustration and disconnection from early literacy.

If we can address it early with low-pressure, playful strategies, we’re setting them up for success—not just in writing, but in confidence.

How ECE and NE Teachers Can Use This

In Kindy or ECE settings: Start with body-based learning—hand signals, air writing, songs. No pressure to “get it right” but constant exposure to directional concepts helps lay the foundation.

In New Entrant classrooms: Make b/d practice part of your handwriting and phonics routines. Repetition through movement, visuals, and consistent cues is key.

🔗 Read the full article here:

👉 Why Some Kids Struggle with Letter Reversals (and What to Do About It)

Would love to hear if you’ve used any of these in your classroom—or what’s working well for your!