How To Help Your Child With Dyslexia

There are some subjects that you cannot just guess a solution, and helping a child with dyslexia is one of them. I had to research practical ways to ensure that our readers and listeners get the correct help, and not just Tafi's suggested solution. It's a sensitive subject and must be handled as such because it could affect a child's purpose, self esteem and character if not addressed correctly. So that's why you have found that my last three posts have been from sites and not just me sharing. I didnt look for academic sites because sometimes we need less complicated solutions to be effective and to easily remember them. After reading them I found I could remember the important points easily and knew how to apply them easily.

One thing that popped up as I was reading through alot of literature was the fact that as a parent, you will have to be creative in how you help your child learn concepts. Its about using all your senses to help your child remember. I think this is quite fun to be honest, because it opens up the creative side in your brain as well as stimulating your child's creativity. I can understand why some of the dyslexic people I know and have heard of are artistic: they see the world through the senses and are really good at it!

So let me share some practical ways of helping your child; 

• Read to your child. Find time to read to your child every day. Point to the words as you read. Draw attention to words that you run across in daily life, such as traffic signs, billboards, notices, and labels.
• Be a good reading role model. Show your child how important reading is to daily life. Make books, magazines, and other reading materials available for your child to explore and enjoy independently.
• Focus on the sounds within words (phonemes). Play rhyming games, sing songs that emphasize rhyme and alliteration, play word games, sound out letters, and point out similarities in words.
• Work on spelling. Point out new words, play spelling games, and encourage your child to write.
• Help with time and planning. Hang up simple charts, clocks, and calendars, so your child can visualize time and plan for the future.
• Share in the joy of reading. Find books that your child can read but that you will also enjoy. Sit together, take turns reading, and encourage discussion. Revisiting words that cause trouble for your child and rereading stories are powerful tools to reinforce learning.
• Read, read, read. Read to and with your child. This can help make a positive difference in learning basic reading skills. 

 Here are some ways to encourage your child

• Learn about dyslexia. Information about dyslexia can help you better understand and assist your child.
• Teach through your child's areas of strength. For example, if your child understands more when listening, let him or her learn new information by listening to an audiobook or watching a DVD. If possible, follow up with the same story in written form.
• Respect and challenge your child's natural intelligence. Most children with dyslexia have average or above-average intelligence that can be challenged by parents who encourage their intellectual growth. Be honest with your child about his or her disability. Explain it in understandable and age-appropriate examples and terms while offering unconditional love and support.
• Teach your child to persevere. You can model, through good-humored acceptance of your own mistakes, that mistakes can help you find solutions.
• Recognize your child's limitations. There may be some things your child will always struggle with. Help your child understand that this doesn't mean he or she is a failure.
• Don't become a homework tyrant. Expecting perfection and squabbling with your child over homework will create an unhealthy relationship and emphasize your child's failures.
  (Source: webMD)

 Another site (nessy.com)  shared these teaching tips, which I think are great for not just teachers, but parents. Having the same way of teaching at home and at school I believe will achieve success and also give the child a routine to expect when they are learning.  Many kids are home schooled now, so it could help to remember these points.

1. Praise Gives Power Criticism Kills

A person with dyslexia needs a boost to their self-confidence before they can learn to overcome their difficulties. They have already experienced failure and deep down they often don’t believe they are capable of learning.

To re-establish self-confidence provide the opportunity to succeed and give praise for small achievements.

 2. Don’t ask person with dyslexia to read aloud

Words are likely to be misread or skipped, causing embarrassment.

3. Don’t give a punishment for forgetting books or sports kit

Offer positive strategies such as having one place to put things away.

4. Don’t use the word ‘lazy’

People with dyslexia have to work harder to produce a smaller amount.

They will have difficulty staying focused when reading, writing or listening.

5. Expect less written work

A person with dyslexia may be verbally bright but struggle to put ideas into writing.

Allow more time for reading, listening and understanding.

6. Prepare a printout of homework and stick it in their book

Provide numbered steps, e.g. 1. Do this. 2. Do that etc.

 7. Do not ask them to copy text from a board or book

Give a printout. Suggest they highlight key areas and draw thumbnail pictures in the margin to represent the most important points.

8. Accept homework created on a computer

Physical handwriting is torture for most people with dyslexia. Word processors make life much easier. Allow them to use the Spell checker and help with grammar and punctuation so that you can see the quality of the content.

9. Discuss an activity to make sure it is understood

Visualising the activity or linking it to a funny action may help someone with dyslexia remember.

10. Give the opportunity to answer questions orally

Often people with dyslexia can demonstrate their understanding with a spoken answer but are unable with to put those ideas in writing. (Source: nessy.com)

Its about love, patience, consistency, creativity and repetition really. Love your child for who they are and let them know that and let them see it. Be consistent, be patient and with them and be creative based on their character. Just the same way you are anxious, so is your child. Enjoy the journey and learn your child.

I hope this has helped a parent struggling with how to help their child. Do not leave it to the teacher, they do part of it, you have to do the rest. Please look up speech therapists and child psychologists in Zimbabwe, they are there to help you along this challenging but exciting journey, do not go through this alone. 

Till next Monday

Stay blessed

#beingaparent



https://www.nessy.com/uk/teachers/essential-teaching-tips-dyslexia/
http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/helping-your-child-with-dyslexia