Children spend a huge amount of energy covering up dyslexia. A small child knows they are different from an early age. They see friends beginning to read. And, they want to do the same thing. But when a dyslexic kid tries to decode and understand letters on a printed page, things are so scrambled!
Dyslexic kids crave being like anyone else. So, they hide reading difficulty. When reading comes up with their friends, they work hard to change the subject. Dyslexic children may get their so-called normal fiends to read for them. They routinely make excuses for not reading when asked to do so. They may say they hate the topic of a textbook and therefore refuse to study it. A dyslexic will tell everyone that a book is terrible. Therefore, they shouldn’t have to read it. He or she desperately diverts attention to any reading problem away from themselves.
Shame over having dyslexia dominates a dyslexics’ s life. And if dyslexia is identified, i.e. “diagnosed,”
their shame intensifies. Now his or her worst fears are confirmed. “Everyone” knows they are not like other kids. They may fight the diagnosis or assistance efforts. Depression, acting out repressed anger, and general low-self-esteem are common.
What a waste!
The educational system is often not set up to help dyslexics handle the attacks on their self-image and self-respect. The lack of emotional support can be a greater flaw in a school than inflexibility in teaching methods.
Parents, family, teachers and nearby adults must work hard to encourage dyslexic children to feel good about themselves. It takes a loving parent, a caring teacher, a sibling or all three to heal the wounds. If dyslexic kids don’t get this assistance, self-esteem problems may needlessly stay with them throughout their lives.
How Parents and Teachers Can Help
Learn as much as possible about dyslexia. The dyslexic brain is structurally different from a non-dyslexic brain. And many other factors play a part in dyslexia. For further information, go to my boards on Pinterest (Dankaluzny0650). There are over 1000 pins on dyslexia causes, identifying dyslexia, helping dyslexics, homeschooling dyslexics, showing dyslexia is a gift, and general dyslexia resources.
Dyslexic children are not slow or stupid. They are not diseased. When others make dyslexic kids feel inferior, help the child deal with the pain.
The Dyslexic Gifts
Dyslexics tend to have one or more special talents. They may be exceptionally creative. They are very empathetic to people in distress around them. Dyslexics look at the big picture. They approach situations from a different perspective. They develop uncommon solutions to problems. Dyslexic kids often possess outstanding three-dimensional visualization skills. Athletes with dyslexia have had record-setting careers.
Play detective and surface these extraordinary traits in your daughter or son.
Make sure dyslexics know they are gifted. Point out the unique talents you identified. Help them develop and use their gifts. Emphasize that their special traits can really benefit other people. And, that these same characteristics could propel the youngster to be highly successful when they grow up.
Ways to Help
Do not fixate on a single method of preparing the child to read. Dyslexia is different for each child. When traditional instruction doesn’t work, try alternative learning methods. Keep going until you hit one that works.
Parents advocate for your kids within the educational system. Schools or school districts are often unequipped to help dyslexic children learn to read. And/or a school may improperly deal with the emotional impact of dyslexia on a student. You could have to fight to get your daughter or son the reading assistance and emotional support they need from your school. Do not be surprised if you are forced to find other ways of getting your child dyslexia aid.
Dyslexia causes a lot of unnecessary emotional pain. If your son or daughter or another child has dyslexia, help them lower their shields. Yes, get them support in learning to read. But also help them identify and grow the special talents that dyslexia brings to them.
