It’s estimated that between 80% and 90% of children suffering from learning disabilities have dyslexia. This can make it difficult for affected individuals to read, write, and even speak. The good news is that it can be treated.
Wondering how to help a child with dyslexia? Then read on. Here is a collection of tips for you to utilize. You can visit our website for more information.
Play to Their Strengths
Your child might struggle to read or write or speak, but that doesn’t mean that they struggle with everything. In fact, your child is likely very talented in other areas.
As a parent, it’s your job to shine a light on those talents and use them to push improvements in the areas in which your child is lacking. For instance, let’s say your child is good at drawing. Not only should you be routinely praising your child over their drawing ability but you should also be encouraging drawing as a means of communicating new ideas.
Doing these things can greatly improve your child’s self-esteem. They can also assist in helping your child to make connections between words, images, and ideas.
In any case, you need to show your child that they don’t struggle at everything. You need to show them that they’re capable of doing great things and that they’re just as worthwhile as other kids.
Read Aloud
For dyslexic children who have trouble reading, one of the best things to do is read aloud to them. The more this is done, the more familiar they will become with certain sentence structures. This familiarity will enable these children to more readily piece words together in a logical way in their minds.
Parents with dyslexic kids can also use these opportunities as teaching moments. For instance, they can have their kids repeat sentences and words. They can also provide their kids with the opportunity to ask important questions.
When dyslexic kids are reading along with others, they tend to feel much more engaged in the content. As such, their focus increases and they’re able to improve upon their writing, speaking, and reading skills.
Move Slowly
To you, reading, speaking, and writing may come naturally. It might even be akin to breathing. But to a kid with dyslexia, reading, speaking, and writing are the most difficult things in the world.
What this means is that, when teaching your child, whether you do this yourself or with the aid of a resource like Dysolve, you need to move slowly. Don’t push your child; guide your child instead. You’re there to show your child the way, not pull them uncomfortably through each book or story.
If you do, indeed, push your child, you run the risk of discouraging them. They might feel as though they’re not good enough, which can impair their capabilities in the future.
Yes, you might get frustrated at times. But you can’t let that frustration overcome you. You must remain positive and allow your child to move at their own pace.
Celebrate!
For children with dyslexia, every word can feel like a mountain. And when you’re trying to scale mountains on a regular basis, you can start to feel frustrated.
As such, as the parent of a child suffering from dyslexia, you need to make a big deal out of every small victory; because, to your child, that small victory is actually a huge victory.
So, when your child can finally say a certain word right, or when your child can finally read through a difficult sentence, you need to celebrate. You don’t necessarily need to throw a party and take your child out to their favorite restaurant. But you need to show excitement and let your child know that they just reached a seismic accomplishment.
Prepare Them
In truth, for those with dyslexia, the problem never actually goes away. If your child suffers from this now, they will be suffering from it for the rest of their life.
It’s important to note, though, that improvement is possible. As long as your child wants to improve, they will improve. It’s your job to provide them with the resources they need and prepare them for what lies ahead.
Be honest with them; tell them that this is a problem they’ll have to deal with. Let them know that they’ll sometimes need to stand up for themself. Show them how this is done and ensure that they have the confidence to do it on their own.
Most importantly, let your child know that they have nothing to be ashamed about. They have no control over this disorder and couldn’t have ever done anything to prevent it. Yes, it will make things difficult for them at times, but that should just make every victory sweeter.
Consider Alternative Educational Options
For kids with severe dyslexia, it can be next to impossible to keep up in a public school environment. The lessons just move too quickly and teachers are often unable to accommodate kids on an individual basis.[adsense]
Fortunately, if your dyslexic child is having trouble keeping up in public school, he or she can pursue other options. In fact, there are even schools that specifically cater to those with dyslexia. These schools are better equipped to handle kids on an individual basis and will ensure that your child is getting all of the attention resources they need.
Do You Have a Child With Dyslexia?
If you have a child with dyslexia, and if you’re looking for ways to combat it, you really should consider enrolling your child in a dyslexia-focused school. These schools are specially equipped to accommodate kids suffering from dyslexia and can greatly improve your child’s learning capabilities and quality of life.
Looking for a dyslexia-focused school in the Suwanee, Georgia area? The Sage School is the school you seek.
