3-Dimensional Movement: Reduce “b” and “d” reversals

Julia Grover-Barrey OTR/L
Founder of In-Tuned®

When children are learning to print letters and numbers it’s not uncommon for them to reverse “b” and “d”, “p” and “q”, “m” and “w”, “s” and “5”, and “q” and “9” – after all they do look similar to the inexperienced eye.

By 7 years most children have mastered the subtle differences between letters and numbers, have had it taught into them or learned to self-correct on the “down low” sufficiently.

Tying shoes, riding a two-wheeled bicycle and swimming are also things most 7-year olds have got licked.

Typically, by age 7, children have enough bodily experience with hands, feet, hands and feet, arms and legs to synchronize well, leading to accomplished motor skills and the insight to know “b” and “d” are not the same letter.

If you take notice, many who have “b” and “d” reversals after the age of 7 are those having trouble tying shoes and swimming shorts, pumping independently on a swing and learning to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. And on a higher level, they may be a very good ballet dancer, but can only turn in one direction.

It is not unusual for chronic “b” and “d” reversers to be low readers, have difficulties composing sentences and forget to use conventions when writing, because after the age of 7 the letter (and sometimes number) reversals are all part of a bigger learning issue.

SOLUTION: Allow the body to inform the brain about the differences between right, left, side to side, forwards and backwards, up and down, in and out.

Engaging the body in 3-D movement patterns early not only builds motor skills, it establishes better communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain needed for awareness of what lies on either side of the midlines, whether the midline is your body or the line on a page.

It’s never too late to use 3-D patterning to improve overall movement, recognize nuances in spatial relationships, improve working memory and mental flexibility.

March using arms and legs, march alternating hand to opposing knee, pivot in a circle one way and then the other, clap up to the sky on your tip toes then clap towards the ground sitting in your imaginary chair, turn your head one way to follow your hand as it rotates back behind you and then switch sides. Move forwards, move backwards, get into a crazy position on the floor and then reverse order and get out of position.

 It’s the body building the brain.

 It’s not just for children, it’s for adults too.

  I will be offering group lessons for adults who want to improve brain function.

 Stay In-Tuned®…more to come.

 Julia