Formal Education

Introduction

Dyslexia Training can be a very successful means of working with your child. I perceive training to be a regular and consistent periods of time that you set aside to work with them. Below I have suggested seven different activities that could really help you to develop your child’s skills as they battle with their dyslexia. By doing this, you can make an enormous difference in helping to develop your child’s skills.

Yet, routine must not equal boredom! I believe that the most important aspect of all of the following tips are to make them fun. Participate in the activity in such a way that your child forgets that they are learning. Help them to just enjoy spending time with you. Another vital ingredient with all of these activities is that together with the fun element, you should be constantly be praising your child and encouraging them.

1. A Virtual Smoothie Maker

Lots of children enjoy making smoothies. Instead of blending different fruits, of virtual smoothie maker blends different sounds in words. to make it more realistic you can even make your own model of a smooth maker. For instance, supposing your child is having difficulty blending “f” and “r” together. Write these two letters on separate pieces of paper and pop them in your blender. start the blender. Say out Loud words that begin with F and words that begin with “r”. Then as the blending process continues, say out loud words that begin with “fr.”

2. Writing in Rice/Sand/Flour

I have chosen rice sand and flour because they are the most common ingredients found in most households. You can use anything that you like as long as it feels great! It has been shown time and time again how important it is to use different senses in learning. getting your child to right out different words with their fingers in rice or sand is great because your constant feedback from their finger out and move through the rice or the sand will help their concentration and memory.

3. Using Paint or Shaving Foam to Write

Once more, please do not limit yourselves to paint and shaving foam. The emphasis here is on novelty. How about mud? Essentially this is the same as writing with a pen and pencil but there is more motivation as writing with a paintbrush or a can is different. Also, because the letters are bigger when doing this, your child’s memory could be helped. As each letter and word is written, reinforce it by saying it out loud.

4. Letters & Words that Are Good Enough to Eat

This is very similar to Activities 2 and 3 because your child will be using multiple senses in the activity. Here the motivation is on taste. Cake mix or cookie dough are lovely materials to use but you might consider using pastry and sausage meat to create letters and words.

5. Creating a Sign or an Action

Physical movement and activity is very important for children with dyslexia. In order to help them remember spellings they could learn how to sign individual letters with their hands and then spell out individual words. If you say the letters and words at the same time, your child’s memory could be helped considerably.

6. Reading Aloud

Reading aloud to someone is very difficult for a child with dyslexia because they will feel too self conscious. Yet, reading aloud will help to improve overall reading ability so it is a very important activity. To reduce a child’s anxiety and improve their confidence consider giving them a less critical audience. Encourage them to read to a favourite pet, cuddly toy or even someone or the TV (with the volume muted!)

7. Using Technology

My final tip, when thinking about dyslexia training, is to use a computer to help your child with their spelling, reading and writing. Since most children love computers, this method is a winner for motivation. Typing can be an easier physical task for some children than writing. But a computer can help in lots of different ways. Try changing the font size in the word processor so that it is much larger. Try using a very clear font such as “arial”. Or try reversing the colour of the font and background- from black on white to white on black.

Closing Thoughts

Just remember, spend time dyslexia training with your child on a regular and consistent basis. Have fun and keep the fact that they are doing work, a great big secret! Although it is important to work on their weak areas, also create activities in which they can show off and demonstrate their strengths. That will help to raise their self confidence.