Why do kids write some numbers and letters in mirror image?

Question

I’ve been practicing the ABCs and 123s with my son and notice that certain letters (J N P S Z) and numbers (4 6) he always writes backwards/mirror imaged. I’ve seen other kids, and even my own writings as a child, have the same quirk. Is this pretty much universal?

In: 1018

Answer 1

We think it’s wrong to write that way, but why should it be? It could just as well have been the case that only the shape mattered, and not the orientation.