Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that manifests as difficulty learning to read, write, spell, or sometimes speak.
Fortunately, once dyslexia is diagnosed, there is a lot that therapists and parents can do to help. While a dyslexia-trained tutor can help your child master rules and tricks that will help make reading easier for him, there is a lot parents can do to make the act of reading less demanding and more enjoyable, says Anne Hahnel, a speech-language pathologist in St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology.
Here are some recommendations from Hahnel and the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity to help children with dyslexia – and other reluctant readers – master the skill:
Make it fun. “Reading is really, really hard for these kids,” you have to motivate them with engaging stories. Read exciting books aloud to them. If they get sucked into a story they will aspire to want to read for themselves. Let them choose the reading material. Comic books and joke books can be very motivating.
Recognize your child’s strengths. “These children are often very gifted in three-dimensional thinking – a lot of people with dyslexia are drawn to careers in architecture and engineering – and interpersonal skills,” says Hahnel. Help them cultivate their gifts.
Reassure them. Kids with dyslexia often struggle with low self-esteem. “Reassure them,” says Hahnel. “Let them know, ‘it’s not that you’re not smart, your brain just learns information in a different way.”
Read and reread. Let your kids revel in the same books until the binding falls apart. Repetition helps kids learn and ultimately read the text. Being familiar with the material helps them develop confidence.
Create reading and writing opportunities. Write notes and leave them on your child’s pillow, in a lunchbox, or pocket. Ask friends and relatives to send postcards, letters, e-mails, or texts. Buy a set of magnetic letters and words on the refrigerator.
Talk to a professional. If you are worried about your child’s ability or willingness to read, talk to your pediatrician and your child’s teacher. They can provide you with guidance, resources, and ideas to encourage reading.
Get them a tutor. “It is so hard being a parent of a struggling learner because your number one job is to be mom or dad,” says Hahnel. If you and your child are locking horns, find a trained reading tutor who can prioritize their learning.
