Practical help on how parents can help their dyslexic child or teenager

Being the parent of a child with a learning difficulty or dyslexia can be an alternately frustrating and rewarding experience. Such children have a different, often more creative, way of seeing the world, which can both help and hinder, and it is up to the adults in their lives to foster the child's talents while improving weaknesses without damaging self-esteem.

The following is a list of things that parents can do to help their own children realise their potential without placing unreasonable demands upon them and preserve a healthy parent-child relationship.

Firstly, be observant, listen, and spend time with your child. Try to focus on your child's strengths and talents and avoid criticism of his or her weaknesses. Chances are, your child is all too aware of his or her shortcomings and pointing them out will only cause a rift between you.

Establish good homework habits with a consistent time, space and environment. Parents aren't expected to help with homework or check if it's accurate, but providing encouragement and rewards when the task is complete is very effective. For older students, a diary or calendar is essential for organising assignments and building time management skills.

Read to and with your young child for pleasure, and when your child is older, encourage him or her to read for pleasure by modelling that behavior yourself.

Find out as much as you can about dyslexia from your child's school Resource department, the library, local and national organisations and the Internet at websites such as Schwablearning.com, an excellent site designed especially for parents.

Make regular, positive contact with your child's teachers all year long, not just at report card time or when something goes wrong

Seek out support from other parents of children with dyslexia and encourage your child to find a supportive friend in his or her class.

Make it possible for your child to have access to technology such as a hand-held spellchecker, computer with voice recognition software, portable keyboards like Alphasmart or CalcuScribe for taking notes in English or Math class, phonetic electronic dictionaries, books on audiotape or a reading pen with text-to-speech technology as well as graphic organizer software such as Inspiration.

Play games that build skills such as memory, sequencing and phonemic awareness and make learning a part of everyday life. Games such as 'Concentration, ' or games that involve rhyming or remembering details of a story in the correct sequence are excellent. For teens, there is a wide variety of computer software that is educational and fun to use as well. Sites such as www.dyslexic.com have a variety of software that is appropriate for all age levels.

Encourage young children to use their whole body when they write by using a white board with markers, sand boxes, tactile tracing letters, etc. This kinaesthetic approach strengthens the memory pathways that help your child to become a more fluent reader and writer.

Hire a tutor trained in working with dyslexic students to help your child learn compensatory strategies, build skills and confidence, and learn how to self-advocate and become independent.