Developmental Red Flags: A Parent's Guide to Spot Literacy Challenges

Kelli Fetter
Sep 8
2 min read

While handwriting is a vital component in a child's literacy, decoding (including reading and understanding) and encoding (including written expression and spelling) is equally important to a child's growth. Parents often are not equipped with the information of what appropriate development of literacy is and therefore may miss some early developmental red flags that might indicate more. Likewise, research shows that the earlier we can intervene, the better outcomes.

In this parent guide, you will understand red flags to watch out for in your child's literacy development and be equipped with knowledge to seek out help at every stage.

Ages 4–5 (Preschool / Kindergarten)

Developmental Red Flags to Watch For:

Has trouble learning or remembering letter names and sounds.
Struggles to write their own name.
Gets frustrated or avoids drawing/writing activities.
Can’t follow simple “write and draw” directions (e.g., “write cat and draw a cat”).
Very limited vocabulary or trouble telling a simple story.

Why It Matters: At this age, handwriting and learning sounds go hand in hand. If your child isn’t connecting the two, early reading help may be needed.

Ages 6–7 (1st / early 2nd Grade)

Developmental Red Flags to Watch For:

Can’t sound out simple words (like dog or sun).
Spells words in unpredictable ways or just spells words with beginning/ending sounds (e.g., bt for boat).
Can copy neatly but struggles to write their own sentences.
Forgets what they wanted to write halfway through.
Has a hard time writing down sentences you say to them.

Why It Matters: If neatness is fine but getting words and sentences on paper is a big struggle, it often points to reading, spelling, or written expression challenges rather than just handwriting.

Ages 8–9 (3rd / 4th Grade)

Developmental Red Flags to Watch For:

Still makes lots of basic spelling mistakes.
Reverses or leaves out letters when writing.
Writes very little compared to classmates.
Can explain ideas out loud but struggles to write them down.
Gets overwhelmed or avoids writing tasks.

Why It Matters: At this stage, kids should be writing full sentences and short paragraphs. If handwriting looks okay but the words and ideas don’t flow, it may be time for support.

Ages 10+ (Upper Elementary / Middle School)

Developmental Red Flags to Watch For:

Keeps misspelling common, everyday words.
Struggles to organize ideas into sentences and paragraphs.
Can speak clearly but written work is short, jumbled, or full of mistakes.
Needs lots of help copying from the board or writing notes.
Dreads or avoids writing assignments.

Why It Matters: If your child’s handwriting is legible but the content of their writing is weak (spelling, sentences, getting ideas down), it often signals a reading/spelling gap.

Developmental Red Flags: Simple Rule for Parents

If your child can say it but not write it, or handwriting looks fine, but the words on the page don’t make sense, it’s worth checking in for a reading and spelling assessment. Our lead evaluator Dr Payne will walk you through each area of your child's learning profile so you know exactly where their strengths and areas of growth impact their learning.