--- title: 'b' and 'd' - Stop the confusion! (Lower Primary) description: Two letters that seem to cause young readers the most confusion are b and d. Here are some popular strategies to help your child get their bs and ds right. image: https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg --- [![King's Christian College](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/KingsCollege_Oct2016-theme/Images/logo.png) ![King's Christian College](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/KingsCollege_Oct2016-theme/Images/logo-text.png)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/) - Enrol - [Contact](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/contact) - [Compass](https://compass.kingscollege.qld.edu.au) - - [About King's](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings) - [From the Principal](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/from-the-principal) - [Foundational Values](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/foundational-values) - [Campuses](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/campuses) - [Christian Living](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/christian-living) - [Student Leadership](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/student-leadership) - [Performing Arts](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/performing-arts) - [Sport](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/sport) - [Extra Curricular](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/extra-curricular) - [Outside School Hours/Vacation Care](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/outside-school-hours-care) - [School Buses](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/school-buses) - [Student Services](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/student-services) - [Student Wellbeing](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/student-wellbeing) - [Term Dates](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/term-dates) - [Annual Report](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/annual-report) - [Policies](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/policies) - [Teaching & Learning](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics) - [King's Early Learning](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics/early-learning) - [Primary School](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics/primary-school) - [High School](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics/high-school) - [King's Trade Training Centre (KTTC)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics/trade-training-centre) - [Project Based Learning (PBL)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics/project-based-learning) - [Enrolments](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments) - [Early Learning Enrolments](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/noahs-ark-kings) - [Primary & High School Enrolments](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/primary-high-school) - [Trade Training Centre Enrolments](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/trade-training-centre) - [International Students](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/international-students) - [Scholarships](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/future-scholarships) - [Book a Tour](https://info.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/book-a-tour) - [Open Days](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/open-days) - [Fees](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments/fees) - [Community](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community) - [Playtime @ King's](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/play-time-kings) - [Public Events](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/public-events) - [Reedy Creek Newsletter](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/reedycreek-latest) - [Pimpama Newsletter](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/pimpama-latest) - [Logan Village Newsletter](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/logan-village-newsletter) - [Communications](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/communications) - [Job Vacancies](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/job-vacancies) - [Alumni](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/alumni) - [Parents and Friends (P&F)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/parents-and-friends) - [King's Church](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/kings-church) - [Useful Links](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community/useful-links) - [Blog](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au) [![King's Christian College](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/KingsCollege_Oct2016-theme/Images/kings-mobile-logo2.png)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/) - Enrol - [Contact](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/contact) - [Compass](https://compass.kingscollege.qld.edu.au) - - [About King's](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings) - [Teaching & Learning](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/academics) - [Enrolments](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/enrolments) - [Community](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/community) - [Blog](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au) ### Enrol - #### Reedy Creek Campus [Enrol](https://enrolments.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/student/application-for-enrolment/?campus=reedy-creek-prep-12) - #### Pimpama Campus [Enrol](https://enrolments.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/student/application-for-enrolment/?campus=pimpama-prep-12) - #### Logan Village Campus [Enrol](https://enrolments.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/student/application-for-enrolment/?campus=logan-village-prep-12) - #### International Students [Enrol](https://enrolments.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/form/international-application?campus=reedy-creek-international-students) - #### King's Trade Training Centre [Enrol](https://enrolments.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/form/trade-training-centre-application-form/) ## [King's Blog](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au) ### Education and parenting articles from the King's team # 'b' and 'd' - Stop the confusion! (Lower Primary) [![Pin It](https://assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion&media=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/524334/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![b-and-d-stop-the-confusion](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg?width=800&name=b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg) When children learn to read and write, they often muddle up similar-looking letters (and numbers). The most common offenders are: •   **v** and  **u**; •   **u** and  **n**; •   **p** and  **q**; •   **1** and  **7**; •   **2** and  **5**. However, the two letters that seem to cause young readers the most confusion are **b** and **d**. This is very normal for children up to the age of seven and not a key indicator of dyslexia at this age. Nevertheless, getting your child out of the habit of reversing their **b**s and **d**s may need a little practice ... A quick search on [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com) will bring up dozens of irritating songs aimed at helping your child differentiate between these letters. Should you find them too annoying, try some of these popular strategies to help your child get their **b**s and **d**s the right way round: ### Write it They may mix up their **b**s and **d**s but children don't generally confuse the upper case versions of these letters (**B** and **D**). As your child learns to write their letters, show them how a **b** fits inside a capital **B**. It's like a **B** with the tummy but without the head. ![b fits into B and an a into d](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/write-it.jpg?width=800&name=write-it.jpg) A **d** on the other hand starts as a lower-case **a** but continues going up. A **b** starts high with the stem, whereas a **d** starts low with an **a**. As your child learns correct letter formation in their writing, this should help them differentiate between the two letters. ### Say it ![b and d lip shapes](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b%20and%20d%20lip%20shapes.png?width=326&name=b%20and%20d%20lip%20shapes.png) Every child learns and remembers things differently. Some children may find it helpful to make an association between how they say a letter and how it looks. When saying the letter **b**, the mouth starts with its lips tight together in a line, like the stem of a **b** (albeit orientated horizontally rather than vertically).  When saying the letter **d**, the mouth starts open, with the lips slightly rounded - like the rounded first part of a **d**.  Let your child watch themselves say **b** and **d** in a mirror. If they can make the association between the 'lip-shut' line of the **b** and the open-mouth rounded-ness of the **d**, it may help them remember how the letters are formed. ### b e d Luckily, both **b** and **d** come at the beginning of the alphabet - the part that most young children can remember! **b** comes before **d**.  ![b-e-d](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-e-d.jpg?width=800&name=b-e-d.jpg) - Visualise a bed with the stalks of the **b** and the **d** making the bedhead and the foot of the bed. **b** comes before **d** so **b** has its stalk to the left, **d** to the right. - Make a 'thumbs up' sign in front of you with both hands. The left hand forms a **b** and the right hand forms a **d**.   **b** comes before **d**. Put an e in the middle and it spells b-e-d. ### bat before ball, doorstop before door Here's a handy aide-memoire: ![bat before ball, doorstop before door](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/bat-before-ball.jpg?width=800&name=bat-before-ball.jpg) ### Activities Here are three simple activities you can do with your child to help them practice their **b**s and **d**s: #### Flip book ![Flip book](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/flip-chart.jpg?width=600&name=flip-chart.jpg) Make a simple flip-book for reading practice with the options of a **b** and a **d** on the left-hand side and some word endings that work with both **b** and **d** on the right, eg: - **ad** - **in** - **ig** - **ug** - **ark** - **og** - **oom** - **one** - **ay** - **eep** #### Letter hunt Cut out a piece of text from a newspaper or magazine (or print from the internet) and give your child a highlighter pen. Give them two minutes to find and highlight as many instances of the letter **b** (or **d**) as they can: ![letter hunt](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/letter-search.jpg?width=600&name=letter-search.jpg)   #### Letter throw ![letter throw](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-toss.jpg?width=800&name=b-and-d-toss.jpg) Make some balls from scrunched-up paper and label each with either a **b** or a **d**. Label a couple of boxes/containers with a **b** or **d** as well. Get your child to throw the letter balls into the correct boxes. ### Related Blogs [![Speaking the English? Why English Is so Difficult to Learn](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Blog%20Featured/speaking_the_english_why_english_is_so_difficult_to_learn_featured.jpg?width=150&height=100&name=speaking_the_english_why_english_is_so_difficult_to_learn_featured.jpg)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/speaking-the-english-why-english-is-so-difficult-to-learn) #### [Speaking the English? Why English Is so Difficult to Learn](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/speaking-the-english-why-english-is-so-difficult-to-learn) [![How to Speak So Young People Will Listen](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Blog%20Featured/how_to_speak_so_young_people_will_listen_featured.jpg?width=150&height=100&name=how_to_speak_so_young_people_will_listen_featured.jpg)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/how-to-speak-so-young-people-will-listen) #### [How to Speak So Young People Will Listen](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/how-to-speak-so-young-people-will-listen) [![Sight Words - Strategies to Make Them 'Stick'](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Blog%20Featured/sight_words_strategies_to_make_them_stick_featured.jpg?width=150&height=100&name=sight_words_strategies_to_make_them_stick_featured.jpg)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/sight-words-strategies-to-make-them-stick) #### [Sight Words - Strategies to Make Them 'Stick'](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/sight-words-strategies-to-make-them-stick) [![Pin It](https://assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion&media=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/524334/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Topics: [Literacy](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/literacy), [Primary School](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/primary-school), [Preschool](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/preschool), [Prep](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/prep) - Recent - Trending - Topics ### Lists by Topic - [Parenting (89)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/parenting) - [Primary School (75)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/primary-school) - [High School (64)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/high-school) - [Teens (41)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/teens) - [Preschool (36)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/preschool) - [Prep (33)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/prep) - [Behaviour (23)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/behaviour) - [Toddlers (17)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/toddlers) - [Social Skills (14)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/social-skills) - [Homework (11)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/homework) - [Internet (10)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/internet) - [Literacy (10)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/literacy) - [Anxiety (9)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/anxiety) - [School Holidays (8)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/school-holidays) - [Technology (8)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/technology) - [Community (6)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/community) - [Teachers (6)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/teachers) - [Food (5)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/food) - [Planning (5)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/planning) - [School Leavers (5)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/school-leavers) - [Social Media (5)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/social-media) - [Boys (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/boys) - [COVID-19 (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/covid-19) - [Friendship (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/friendship) - [Health (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/health) - [Numeracy (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/numeracy) - [Sleep (4)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/sleep) - [Bullying (3)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/bullying) - [Mental Health (3)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/mental-health) - [Sport (3)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/sport) - [Christmas (2)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/christmas) - [Craft (2)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/craft) - [Girls (2)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/girls) - [Performing Arts (2)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/performing-arts) - [Safety (2)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/safety) - [Alumni (1)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/alumni) - [International Students (1)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/international-students) - [Leadership (1)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/leadership) - [Project Based Learning (1)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/project-based-learning) - [exams (1)](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/topic/exams) see all topics \>\> Search this site on Google Search Google [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/524334/671fcde7-9940-403b-aee5-17241648c648.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/524334/671fcde7-9940-403b-aee5-17241648c648) ### Subscribe to King's Blog ![learn, live, love, lead](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/Landing_Pages/learn-love-strapline.png) ![-](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/Landing_Pages/footer-swoosh.png) [![King's Christian College](https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hs-fs/hubfs/KingsCollege_Oct2016-theme/Images/logo01-1.png?width=393&name=logo01-1.png)](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/) ## Logan Village - [(07) 5587 7680](tel:0755877640) - [adminloganvillage@kingscollege.qld.edu.au](mailto:adminloganvillage@kingscollege.qld.edu.au) - 38 Anzac Ave, Logan Village, QLD 4207 Australia ## Pimpama - [(07) 5587 7660](tel:0755877600) - [adminpimpama@kingscollege.qld.edu.au](mailto:adminpimpama@kingscollege.qld.edu.au) - 198 Pimpama-Jacobs Well Rd, Pimpama, QLD 4209 Australia ## Reedy Creek - [(07) 5587 7600](tel:0755877600) - [adminreedy@kingscollege.qld.edu.au](mailto:adminreedy@kingscollege.qld.edu.au) - 68 Gemvale Road, Reedy Creek, QLD 4227 Australia - © 2025 King's Christian Education LTD t/a King's Christian College -  CRICOS Provider no: 00341A - [ Policies](https://www.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/about-kings/policies) site by [Digistorm](http://digistormeducation.com.au) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "S Justine Jones", "url" : "https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/author/s-justine-jones" }, "dateModified" : "2026-08-13T03:45:24.371Z", "datePublished" : "2018-10-11T03:52:00.000Z", "headline" : "'b' and 'd' - Stop the confusion! (Lower Primary)", "image" : [ "https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/Blogs/b%20and%20d/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/b-and-d-stop-the-confusion", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.kingscollege.qld.edu.au/hubfs/KingsCC_Lands.jpg" }, "name" : "King's Christian College" } } ```