Mirror images of words are always fun, even for kids who are only just starting to read. This quick little activity was the latest in a series of ways Travis and I have found to pass along secret messages.

As always for a pre-reader, writing Travis’s name worked best. I carefully wrote the letters backwards, and then held it up to a hand mirror. “What does it say?” I asked.

After a moment of pondering, he exclaimed, “Travis!” with wonder.

He immediately wanted to see more “secret” words so I made pages with a few sight words. Adults, you may want to practice a few times first; you’ll note my “c” in cat wasn’t right. This backwards stuff is hard!

Older kids will have a blast passing real secret messages to each other, and discovering full sentences in the mirror. Travis just loved the reflections even without literacy; he wanted to make scribbles and see how they looked, when presented in reverse form.

Good sleuthing fun!