| Introduction | | | | the letters are bigger when doing this, your child's |
| Dyslexia Training can be a very successful means of | | | | memory could be helped. As each letter and word is |
| working with your child. I perceive training to be a | | | | written, reinforce it by saying it out loud. |
| regular and consistent periods of time that you set | | | | 4. Letters & Words that Are Good Enough to Eat |
| aside to work with them. Below I have suggested | | | | This is very similar to Activities 2 and 3 because your |
| seven different activities that could really help you to | | | | child will be using multiple senses in the activity. Here |
| develop your child's skills as they battle with their | | | | the motivation is on taste. Cake mix or cookie dough |
| dyslexia. By doing this, you can make an enormous | | | | are lovely materials to use but you might consider |
| difference in helping to develop your child's skills. | | | | using pastry and sausage meat to create letters and |
| Yet, routine must not equal boredom! I believe that the | | | | words. |
| most important aspect of all of the following tips are to | | | | 5. Creating a Sign or an Action |
| make them fun. Participate in the activity in such a | | | | Physical movement and activity is very important for |
| way that your child forgets that they are learning. Help | | | | children with dyslexia. In order to help them remember |
| them to just enjoy spending time with you. Another | | | | spellings they could learn how to sign individual letters |
| vital ingredient with all of these activities is that together | | | | with their hands and then spell out individual words. If |
| with the fun element, you should be constantly be | | | | you say the letters and words at the same time, your |
| praising your child and encouraging them. | | | | child's memory could be helped considerably. |
| 1. A Virtual Smoothie Maker | | | | 6. Reading Aloud |
| Lots of children enjoy making smoothies. Instead of | | | | Reading aloud to someone is very difficult for a child |
| blending different fruits, of virtual smoothie maker | | | | with dyslexia because they will feel too self conscious. |
| blends different sounds in words. to make it more | | | | Yet, reading aloud will help to improve overall reading |
| realistic you can even make your own model of a | | | | ability so it is a very important activity. To reduce a |
| smooth maker. For instance, supposing your child is | | | | child's anxiety and improve their confidence consider |
| having difficulty blending "f" and "r" together. Write | | | | giving them a less critical audience. Encourage them to |
| these two letters on separate pieces of paper and | | | | read to a favourite pet, cuddly toy or even someone |
| pop them in your blender. start the blender. Say out | | | | or the TV (with the volume muted!) |
| Loud words that begin with F and words that begin | | | | 7. Using Technology |
| with "r". Then as the blending process continues, say | | | | My final tip, when thinking about dyslexia training, is to |
| out loud words that begin with "fr." | | | | use a computer to help your child with their spelling, |
| 2. Writing in Rice/Sand/Flour | | | | reading and writing. Since most children love |
| I have chosen rice sand and flour because they are | | | | computers, this method is a winner for motivation. |
| the most common ingredients found in most | | | | Typing can be an easier physical task for some |
| households. You can use anything that you like as long | | | | children than writing. But a computer can help in lots of |
| as it feels great! It has been shown time and time | | | | different ways. Try changing the font size in the word |
| again how important it is to use different senses in | | | | processor so that it is much larger. Try using a very |
| learning. getting your child to right out different words | | | | clear font such as "arial". Or try reversing the colour of |
| with their fingers in rice or sand is great because your | | | | the font and background- from black on white to white |
| constant feedback from their finger out and move | | | | on black. |
| through the rice or the sand will help their concentration | | | | Closing Thoughts |
| and memory. | | | | Just remember, spend time dyslexia training with your |
| 3. Using Paint or Shaving Foam to Write | | | | child on a regular and consistent basis. Have fun and |
| Once more, please do not limit yourselves to paint and | | | | keep the fact that they are doing work, a great big |
| shaving foam. The emphasis here is on novelty. How | | | | secret! Although it is important to work on their weak |
| about mud? Essentially this is the same as writing with | | | | areas, also create activities in which they can show |
| a pen and pencil but there is more motivation as writing | | | | off and demonstrate their strengths. That will help to |
| with a paintbrush or a can is different. Also, because | | | | raise their self confidence. |