Reading at home can be the hardest part of the day for a child with dyslexia. These ideas come from what tutors and teachers find works. Pick two or three, not all ten.
- Short and often beats long and rare. Ten minutes a day helps more than an hour on Sunday.
- Read to them, too. Listening to stories above their reading level builds vocabulary and love of books.
- Take turns. You read a page, they read a line. It takes the pressure off.
- Use audiobooks. Following the text while listening is real reading practice, not cheating.
- Choose books they want to read. Comics, football magazines and joke books all count.
- Look for dyslexia-friendly books. Thicker paper, bigger spacing and clear fonts help many children.
- Practise sounds through games. Rhyming games, I spy with sounds, and magnetic letters on the fridge.
- Praise effort, not speed. "You kept going on that long word" means more than "good reading".
- Stop before it goes wrong. End while it is still going well, so next time starts on a good note.
- Talk to the school. Ask what reading programme they use, so home and school use the same approach.
A tutor with dyslexia experience can add calm, structured one-to-one time. On GrindSpot you can find tutors with dyslexia experience.
General information only. If you are worried about your child's reading, talk to their teacher.
