English-speaking children read left to right all day, so Arabic direction needs practice at first.
Visual cues
| Cue | How |
|---|---|
| Start dot | A small green sticker on the right margin of the page |
| Arrow | A ← arrow card on the desk |
| Finger tracking | Finger moves right to left under every word |
| Book direction | Show that Arabic books open from the other side |
Practice activities
- Draw arrows ← on a page; your child traces them.
- Line up toys right to left and “read” them.
- Write letters starting on the right.
Writing helps reading
Children who write Arabic right to left quickly start reading that way naturally. See writing Arabic.
A surprise: numbers
Arabic numbers are written and read left to right, even inside right-to-left text. Older children find this fun.
Common problems
- Starting on the left: use the green start dot for a few weeks.
- Turning pages the wrong way: mark the next page corner.
- Mirror writing: see writing backwards.
Teacher’s tip: tell children: “English goes towards the door, Arabic comes back home.” A simple picture helps them remember the direction.
Related: Why letters change shape.
