Your Child with Dyslexia Can Certainly Learn!

According to recent studies, one in every five child struggles with dyslexia, while a similar number suffers from writing related issues, such as dysgraphia. Both dyslexia and dysgraphia can be very challenging problems for children – they can lead to frustration and a host of emotional and psychological issues. They can also be stressful for parents to deal with, especially since a proper diagnosis is generally never made, and the child is labelled as slow, lazy or even uninterested in learning. Moreover, when a diagnosis is made, it is followed by a lengthy and expensive process of therapy, which most families fail to understand and follow up with.

The purpose of this article is to provide help and support to parents in the light of personal experiences from a mother, whose child was diagnosed as a ‘classic dyslexia and dysgraphia’ case. We will look at some of the best tips and tricks she used, which helped her child excel in both reading and writing. Here is her list of twelve key points.

1. Accept the Condition: The first step is for parents to accept the fact that these are lifelong conditions and also that these do not mean your child will never learn to read; rather, they will just learn in a different manner. Pray for Allah’s (swt) help in guiding you and your child.
2. Build up Your Child: The next most important step is for the parent to give their children the confidence and support, which helps them believe in themselves. Tell your child that everyone is different and we all learn in different ways. Allah (swt) has created beauty in this difference, and we ought to enjoy our distinct qualities, rather than be frustrated or ashamed by them. The confidence you give will help your child flourish.
3. Phonetic Awareness is the Key: For mastering both reading and spelling, parents need to help their child get a strong base in phonics. Work with them on alphabet sounds and repeat the process over and over again. Once this base is built, a major portion of your work is already done.
4. Multi-Sensory Learning: Dyslexic children often have trouble with the direction of alphabets and words. To help them overcome this, parents need to quit the regular practice of writing and use more creative techniques. The child can be asked to trace alphabets and words in air with their fingers, or in a tray of sand or grains, or even on different surfaces like sandpaper or feathers. This helps the brain form the connections in ways that regular writing work will not.
5. CVC Words: CVC words or consonant vowel consonant words like tap, tip, or pan are very important. After learning the phonetic sounds, a child needs to learn how to blend these sounds for forming words. Here into play come the CVC words. Though the regular practice is just to have child memorize such words, for dyslexic children this will not work, as memorizing is an uphill task for them. Rather than just focusing on a rote technique, parents can help them form the connection through card games, which involve the use of different alphabets for forming words. Also, the use of mnemonics can be very handy in this regard. This again helps in building the kind of mental connections, which regular memorizing will not do.
6. Patterns and Numbers: Dyslexic children have a very difficult time memorizing patterns and numbers; they can easily be confused by a set of directions. This means they will have trouble learning the timetables in math and will not do well in activities, which require a set pattern. For timetables, the best technique is to teach a child to calculate the result, rather than push him/her to memorize it. For pattern related activities, parents need to take their child through the activities by tackling one step at a time, without burdening them with multiple directions at once. This can gradually be built upon by adding on to the number of directions over a period of time. You can help your child develop pattern building skills by discussing with him/her the general sequence of his/her day or any memorable event. Likewise, you can also discuss how they made something step by step.
7. Using Fingers or Rulers: When progressing from words to proper book reading, parents will need to understand that the child will have trouble maintaining eye contact within a single line. Start by keeping a finger under the word to be read. You can also use a ruler under the line and a pencil to guide the child through the text word by word. This will make book reading both easy and enjoyable.
8. Build Word Pyramids: As learning spellings can be a tough task, parents can use such techniques as building word pyramids using blocks, flash cards, or even colored pencils. This again helps attach a more sensory and visual aspect to the process, enabling the brain to form connections, which help them retain the information.
9. Read in Funny Voices: One thing that makes reading fun is reading aloud in funny voices and acting out the characters dialogues. Treating tough tasks with an aspect of fun always makes it easier and more appealing. Also, designate a time for reading on a daily basis – preferably at bedtime, when both the parent and child can relax and have a one-to-one interaction. Bedtime bonding makes the idea of reading seem more attractive to the child.
10. Develop the Pincer Grip: Dysgraphic children have trouble holding the pencil correctly or even with a firm enough grip, which will enable them to write properly. Parents can help them refine this fine motor skill by playing games, which involve using such instruments as a pair of tweezers or chopsticks to pick up different objects. Also, board games with small pieces can help the child learn to use the thumb and index finger for holding onto things.
11. Writing Fun: Helping children to write does not need to be a boring task. Some innovative ways to improve writing involve working on your strokes. For this, use paint brushes dipped in water to draw circles, swirls and crosses on a wall. Use the same technique with paint on sheets of paper or on washroom tiles. You can gradually shift to writing letters and then proper words in different styles. The change will be visible!
12. Play with Clay/ Playdough: Clay is the best medium for helping the child develop fine motor skills as well as teaching to relax and destress. The process of kneading clay and forming objects with it (starting with basics and gradually moving to fine details) not only helps develop the child’s hand muscles but also teaches patience, improves concentration, and has a calming effect on the mind.

All said and done, remember always that your child is a gift from Allah (swt), and He alone can help you take best care of your child. Be sure to make lots of Duas for your child and yourself, so the journey become easy for you both, Insha’Allah.