How to Help a Dyslexic Child: 15 Practical Tips for Parents
Your child is dyslexic and you feel helpless? You are not alone. As a parent, you play a crucial role in supporting your child. Here are 15 concrete tips to help them progress and regain their confidence.
💚 Good news: with appropriate support, dyslexic children can develop effective strategies and succeed brilliantly. Your support makes all the difference!
Understanding and Accepting Dyslexia
Learn About Dyslexia
Understand that dyslexia is a neurological disorder, not a lack of intelligence or effort. The more you understand how the dyslexic brain works, the better you can help your child.
Explain Dyslexia to Your Child
Use simple words: "Your brain works differently for reading. It's not your fault, and we will find ways that work for you." Show them examples of successful dyslexic individuals.
Value Their Strengths
Dyslexics often have remarkable talents: creativity, visual thinking, problem-solving, empathy... Identify and celebrate your child's strengths. Their value is not limited to reading.
Supporting Homework and Reading
Create a Calm Environment
Dyslexic children are often more sensitive to distractions. Create a calm, well-lit workspace without screens or background noise. Soft music can sometimes help with concentration.
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
Divide homework into small steps with regular breaks. A timer can help: 15-20 minutes of work, then 5 minutes of break. Avoid marathon sessions that exhaust and discourage.
Read Aloud Together
Read to your child, even if they are "grown up". Alternate readings: you read a paragraph, they read the next. Choose books that genuinely interest them, even if they seem "too easy".
Use Audiobooks
Audiobooks allow your child to access stories without the barrier of decoding. They can follow the text while listening, reinforcing the connection between written words and their pronunciation.
⚠️ Absolutely Avoid
- Making them read aloud in front of an audience (humiliating)
- Comparing with siblings or peers
- Punishing for spelling mistakes
- Saying "you could if you tried harder"
Practical Tools and Adaptations
Specialized Fonts
OpenDyslexic, Lexie Readable: fonts designed to facilitate reading
Reading Ruler
A ruler under the line helps avoid skipping lines
Color Codes
Highlight syllables in different colors
Text-to-Speech
Software that reads text aloud
Voice Dictation
Dictate instead of writing for essays
Training Apps
Fun exercises tailored for dyslexics
Adapt the Reading Material
Enlarge texts, increase line spacing, use colored paper (cream or light yellow is often preferred). These simple adjustments can make a real difference.
Use All Senses
Multisensory learning is more effective: trace letters in sand, form them with modeling clay, write them large on a board. The more senses involved, the better.
🧠 Fun Training Tailored for Dyslexics
Exercises designed to progressively and motivatingly strengthen reading skills
Emotionally Support
Celebrate Progress, No Matter How Small
Every progress deserves recognition: "You read that sentence without error!", "You made fewer mistakes than yesterday!". Focus on improvement, not perfection.
Listen to Frustrations
Let your child express their anger or discouragement without minimizing: "I understand that it's difficult and frustrating". Validate their emotions before suggesting solutions.
Maintain Enjoyable Activities
Life should not revolve solely around academic difficulties. Preserve time for activities where your child excels and thrives: sports, music, art, crafts...
Collaborate with the School
Communicate with Teachers
Explain your child's specific needs. Share what works at home. An informed and caring teacher can adapt their teaching methods and avoid humiliating situations.
Establish a Personalized Support Plan (PAP or PPS)
The Personalized Support Plan (PAP) or the Personalized Schooling Project (PPS) allows for official accommodations: extra time, computer use, exemption from reading aloud...
Follow Speech Therapy Sessions
Speech therapy sessions are essential. Get involved by asking for exercises to do at home. Consistency in care is key to progress.
What to Do and Avoid
✅ To Do
- Encourage, value, praise
- Adapt materials and tools
- Break tasks into smaller steps
- Read together, aloud
- Collaborate with the school
- Preserve self-esteem
- Follow up on therapy
❌ To Avoid
- Compare with others
- Punish for mistakes
- Force reading aloud
- Saying "you are lazy"
- Neglect positive aspects
- Too long work sessions
- Show your frustration
Additional Resources
To further support your child:
- Associations: APEDYS, French Federation of DYS (FFDys), Dyspraxic But Fantastic
- Speech Therapist: consultation by doctor's prescription (reimbursed)
- Neuropsychologist: for a complete assessment if necessary
- MDPH: for requests for AESH or adapted materials
- Books: "100 Ideas to Help Dyslexic Students" (Gavin Reid)
📖 Has your child not been evaluated yet?
Our free screening test can help you identify if a speech therapy consultation would be beneficial.
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