Having a dyslexic child opens up a whole new world of learning for both students and parents. Often, upon diagnosis, parents and families begin to educate themselves about this specific learning disability. Learning about dyslexia can lead to wonderful discoveries. If you’re seeking more tailored, personal help for your student, you may seek high-caliber support from a program like ours at Dyslexia on Demand. In addition, you may work with teachers and other professionals at school to advocate and create a more supportive learning environment for your child.
To support all of your child’s learning outside of the home, you can also create a supportive home environment for learning and reading. School may be a place where your child struggles or is stressed; intentionally creating space to provide support and compassion at home is essential to a student’s success.
One of the ways to make your home a more supportive learning environment is to read more with your child. This doesn’t mean assigning book reports, comprehension quizzes, and reading logs to your student; rather, you can boost confidence and interest simply by reading with or listening to your child read at home. There are so many benefits to making reading a way of life at home for your student with dyslexia. Read on to learn 7 ways to resolve to read more with your dyslexic child.
- Make a manageable goal. You don’t have to finish the first Harry Potter book in one sitting. Focus on making reading a ritual in your house by committing to just 20 minutes a day (or night). Studies show that children who read with their parents daily are exposed to more than a million words per year. Setting aside just 20 minutes at bedtime, after school, or any time you can work it into your family’s schedule can truly have invaluable benefits. Remember, reading time does not have to mean them reading to you! Share read, read to them, or follow along text with an audiobook – but just read!
- Decide to read something delightful. Or frightful. Or informative. When a child helps to choose the texts you read, their interests are piqued, and they are more invested in what they’re reading or listening to. Visit a brick and mortar bookstore, or take a trip to the library together to select some texts your child wants to read. Does your child love animals, sports, video games, or music? Find something engaging that will be an entertaining read. Graphic novels, magazines, and comic books all count as texts. Poetry, short stories, and chapter books can be enjoyed by kids when they have a hand in selecting what they want to read too.
- Create a great space for reading. You don’t have to remodel your home to make a comfortable reading spot. Cut out screen time when you are reading with your dyslexic child. Focus on what you’re reading together. Whether you’re diving into comics on the couch or snuggling up with some stories before bedtime, be sure to have a distraction-free space where you can really get into what you’re reading.
- Skip the struggle. So often for dyslexic students, reading can be a dreaded task. In this case, you get to make reading time fun and enticing. When you resolve to read more with your child, they do not have to be the one who reads to you. This allows your reader to simply listen and enjoy story time.
- Boost your kid’s brain power. The simple act of reading to your child each day is so powerful. Exposing kids to literature expands their vocabulary and their general knowledge exponentially.
- Help yourself and your child to unwind. Making consistent reading time for you and your child can create a predictable, comforting ritual. This can help to reduce stress and increase relaxation for you both.
- Build your connection. Reading time can be bonding time for you and your child. Even older kids benefit from this kind of togetherness. A lot of quality interaction and communication can take place with shared reading. This is so fantastic for kids with dyslexia, making reading a pleasant experience.
At Dyslexia on Demand, we encourage you to resolve to read more with your dyslexic child at home all year round. And when you need experts to help your child with dyslexia to develop more skills and success in reading and beyond, our dyslexia therapy programs are the answer. Dyslexia on Demand implements research and evidence-based programs through frequent dyslexia therapy sessions. In order to ensure your student is getting the best instruction possible, we work with Certified Academic Language Therapists—CALTs. They’re highly trained specialists who can help dyslexic students of all ages, and one-on-one online sessions can be tailored to your student’s individual needs. Dyslexia on Demand can help to make a difference in your student’s life. Whether your student has a severe daily struggle or mild issues from dyslexia, our individualized therapy programs can help your child’s brain to work more like a neurotypical brain. To learn more, please visit www.dyslexiaondemand.com.
