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Confusing Alphabets

Confusing Alphabets


Alphabets that look almost the same can be confusing to preschoolers who are just beginning to recognise them. For example, almost all preschoolers mix up their "b"s and "d"s, "p"s and "q"s as well as "u"s and "v"s when they first start reading and writing. Arresting this issue from the very beginning can help solve the problem faster as well as build confidence in the budding reader or writer.

Numerous ways have been suggested to help the child overcome this issue. It has been noted that spacing out the introduction of similar alphabets helps to significantly reduce any confusion about the form and shape of alphabets. For example, if "b" is introduced in week 1, the child should be given time to familiarise himself with the shape, sound and common words that begin with "b". This would help the child build an association with the letter, without any interference from other similar alphabets.

Once this process is completed, "d" can be introduced, with emphasis given to the shape of the letter. After going through the familiarisation process with "d", both "b" and "d" can be given in simple worksheets to ensure that the child is able to differentiate them correctly.

I have provided some free printable worksheets that can be downloaded and given to the child to reinforce their learning of similar alphabets. These worksheets can also be used as a preliminary form of assessment to detect any difficulties in identifying similar alphabets.

b or d? worksheet

p or q? worksheet

u or v? worksheet



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