When you put initials on items for boys do you put first,middle and last or first,last and middle? I have always done f,m l but seeing some done f,l,m.

Whenever I'm doing a monogram I tend to google for instructions again, LOL. But Surname initial larger & in the middle then first and second initials either side is how it's usually done. There is monogramming on my software as well as machine and I note that it does them all in caps, however my 'significant other' has a 'de' before his surname without a capital, so he was a tricky one!

No expert here, either, but I think the surname initial, larger and in the centre, would look more balanced and that's the way that I'd do it.
On the other hand, my DHDon has three Christian names, making it a difficult exercise to make the four initials look nice and DARG is an invitation for nicknames, whereas DonG is even worse.... I found out!!!... to my horror when I first created passwords on the computer.
AlmaG.

I'm no expert, by any means, Brenda, but I think that last initial in the middle is usually done larger, then the first and middle on the sides done smaller, like in monogramming towels for a wedding, bride & groom, napkins, etc. It's a more "formal" type of monogram. If you're putting a kid's initials on something, I'd do it the regular way, first, middle & last. Young people generally know nothing of 'etiquette' or elegance. Just my opinion, maybe someone else will have a better idea. But I think the kid would just think you got his initials wrong, hee hee hee. Hugs, Marji