How to Help a Child with Dyslexia: A Parent’s Guide

Written by Lena Ford, registered special-education teacher and Principal, 10/10 Tutoring

If reading and spelling are a daily struggle for your bright, capable child, dyslexia may be part of the picture — and the good news is that the right, structured support genuinely helps. This guide covers what dyslexia is, the early signs, and the strategies that work, from a registered special-education teacher’s perspective.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and spelling. It is not a reflection of intelligence or effort — children with dyslexia are often bright and hardworking, but their brains process written language differently. With structured, evidence-informed teaching, they can and do become confident readers.

Early signs of dyslexia

• Slow, effortful reading, or avoiding reading altogether.
• Spelling that stays inconsistent despite lots of practice.
• Trouble sounding out unfamiliar words or hearing the sounds in words.
• Reading fatigue — a child who “shuts down” during reading tasks.
• A clear gap between spoken ability and what appears on the page.

Strategies that actually help

Structured, multisensory phonics

The approach with the strongest evidence base for dyslexia is explicit, structured, multisensory phonics — teaching the links between sounds and letters systematically, using sight, sound and movement together. This is the backbone of effective support, and the focus of our early-years tutoring (Years 1–2).

Break words into sounds and syllables

Help your child hear and manipulate the sounds in words (phonemic awareness), and break longer words into syllables. Multisensory practice — writing words in different colours or textures — aids retention.

Read aloud and re-read

Reading aloud slows processing and builds accuracy; re-reading familiar texts builds fluency and confidence.

Small steps, lots of success

Keep tasks achievable so your child experiences frequent success — confidence is fuel for a struggling reader.

What doesn’t help

• “Just read more” without structured teaching — it often increases frustration.
• Comparing your child to siblings or peers.
• Framing struggle as laziness — it erodes the confidence they most need.

How specialist tutoring supports readers

At 10/10 Tutoring in Loganholme, our specialist support for learning difficulties is led by a registered special-education teacher and built on structured, multisensory methods. We start with a diagnostic assessment, target the specific gaps, and coordinate with your child’s school so the support reinforces classroom learning. For older students, this continues through our primary and middle-years programs.

Frequently asked questions

Can a child with dyslexia learn to read well?

Yes. With structured, multisensory, phonics-based teaching, children with dyslexia build strong reading and spelling skills. Early, consistent support makes the biggest difference.

At what age can dyslexia be identified?

Signs can appear in the early years, and support can begin as soon as difficulties are noticed — you don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to start strengthening skills.

Is dyslexia the same as a reading delay?

Not quite. Many children read a little later than peers and catch up; dyslexia is a specific, persistent difficulty with the sound-to-letter processing that reading relies on, and it responds best to structured, specialist teaching.