Realize that your child is going to struggle more than his peers when it comes to school. This may seem obvious, but it’s tough for any parent to accept this. Studies have shown that it can take dyslexic children up to 3 years to learn how to read. You may be struggling for a significant period of time. Do your best to stay persistent. Remember to always encourage your child.
Start early. When you start teaching your child earliy about reading and spelling, the results are better in the long run. As soon as you see your child having trouble, look into ways to help. The word “intervention” is usually how people describe these early programs, but it’s really just an intensive way of teaching for students who need a little more help than most.
Focus on phonics. For dyslexic children, phonics helps learning to read happen at a faster pace. A word is broken down into syllables and sounds. One must first learn what each syllable is supposed to sound like (and then how they sound together). If you teach phonics to your child early, it will help him later on.
Get a tutor. Tutors come with knowledge of approaches to dyslexia, and they come with proven solutions. An example of this is the Orton-Gillingham approach. It’s best to use a tutor outside of his school. This way, it’ll just be your child and the tutor, one on one. You can always learn the Orton-Gillingham approach yourself if you can’t afford a tutor, but tutors come highly recommended. See the Resources section for more information on this approach.
Get help from her teacher in the classroom. You’ll need to work with your child’s teacher to encourage her to keep trying. Some tasks like reading aloud or reading tests will be exceptionally hard for your child. Work with the teacher to ensure that she receives fair treatment and proper assignments.