Now that you have a better understanding of Dyslexia (See previous article : Some important facts about Dyslexia) as parents of a dyslexic child there's nothing you should feel bad about or fear. It's just a condition that won't allow your child to master the reading and writing skills the way kids of his age might do. However, he will learn it with time provided you give him the needed space. Taking care of the following things will be of great help:
Educate yourself:
To begin with, you will have to update yourself about dyslexia, its treatment and the latest updates. The more information you gather in order to help the child, the better the results would be. You just can't rely on the therapists, as the child will need immense love, support and encouragement from you as well. And if you aren't aware of the basics regarding dyslexia, you will never be able to him him out.
Give the needed help:
Whether it is a school assignment or therapy lessons, you must ensure that the child is getting all the help he requires. Be in constant touch with his school teacher and the dyslexia specialist. At home also, you must encourage the child and take part in the learning activities he undertakes.
Encourage and be Positive:
Your child requires your encouragement more than anything. Boost his confidence and let him know that things will take time but he will surely accomplish them. You can help him take part in activities specifically designed for the dyslexic kids. This will uplift his self-esteem and he won't feel left out.
Limit your expectations:
You will have to understand the limitation with your child and hence you shouldn't overburden him with expectations. Your aim should be to make him comfortable with reading and learning. Don't push him into it, let him do it with comfort.
Be patient and considerate:
This is the time you will have to be extremely patient considering your child's disability of understanding and following instructions. Don't be harsh or get mad at him. You must know that he isn't doing it purposely. So be considerate of his condition and give him enough time and space to figure out things around.
Teaching a Dyslexic Kid: Activities Parents Can Choose From!
As stated earlier, dyslexia is predominantly a learning “disability” that has strong connection to the visual-spatial learning of an individual. A dyslexic child will often think in pictures, have his share of struggles with the language and can even find it hard to sequence the things and instructions.
While they may be slow with the general mode of learning, they have amazing visual- spatial abilities. They need some added help to develop the reading and literacy skills. If you have a dyslexic kid, check out some of the activities that can be done at home that will help your child build learning skills and acquire confidence:
The Clay-Models:
A dyslexic child is a visual learner and thus needs images in order to connect to the words he is reading. You can use pictures to show the words and if that's not possible, clay or dough models can be of great help. This can be fun way of introducing them with the letters. Model the letters and words, the numbering order etc. using clay or dough. This child will connect with it easily.
Make note cards:
Note cards also can provide the child something to gaze at while also providing them something to hold on. Making the note cards and reading them aloud helps in cementing the learning, while engrossing your child's motor and auditory skills.
Use sand trays:
You can even use the sand trays, which basically are simple tray-like containers which hold sand, or beans. As you did with clay models, you can let the child draw the number, words or letters on the sand. This will improve their visual skills.
Audio books:
Recorded books work great for kids who find it hard to read the words printed in a book. This will not just develop the reading skills, but will even improve the listening skills. You can either rent it from a library or record in your own voice.
A little effort from your end and the child would take no time in mastering the reading and writing skills. Just be patient and consistent with your efforts!