As parents of Dyslexic students, we spend a lot of time with our heads in the space of, “what support does my child need?”  

It’s important to know our child’s weaknesses and to be able to help them overcome them.  

We can also get bogged down in the support, it can be overwhelming, choosing the right program, the right tutor, being organized, how do I fit it in.  The list goes on. 

Sometimes it is hard to get our heads out of this space.  That’s why I want to talk about finding the ‘THING’ they LOVE.

Equally as important as the support, maybe more, is finding the ‘THING’ they LOVE.  

Helping them to find their spark, their passion, that thing they just want to do because it comes easy, and they are good at it.

At the end of the day each dyslexic student is going to need support in and out of school.  That is going to be hard work for the child, working on a weaknesses is never easy.  As adults we choose to do the things, we are good at.  

I don’t think many people who perceived themselves to be bad at science went and did a science degree so they could work in the field of science. 

At primary school and most of secondary school we must do everything which means daily our children are facing and dealing with ‘things’ they perceive themselves NOT to be good at.  

Let’s be honest doing the things we are not good at over and over can destroy self esteem and confidence. Add on to that getting pulled out of class over and over, year after year for support, maybe not feeling progress. It slowly eats away at self-esteem and confidence.

It is for this reason that we need to find the ‘THING’ they LOVE.

Doing the thing your child loves will build self esteem and confidence, it will allow them to experience what it feels like when something comes easy and give them that experience of success. 

It will inspire them to improve at something.  

Give them a chance to feel what it is like to be good at something, maybe to have it come easy and to get lost in enjoying it.  It will give them a chance to be recognized by others at being good at something.  It will build self-esteem and confidence.

This is why I get up at 4:30am two mornings a week, because I have one child her has found her THING and it is swimming.  Why I take a deep breathe when my 14 year shows me the crazy jumps, he wants to learn to do on his mountain bike. 

They have found the THING they love and when they are doing it and talking about it I can see and hear their hearts singing. 

That is powerful.

Every child will have a different thing they love.  I have had a student that is amazing at art and I love how Mum encourages her to make art and enter art competitions. 

Some love to cook, some love to dance, some love craft, maybe it is board games or lego.  

I guess what I am encouraging you to do is let you dyslexic child try different ‘things’ till they find something they love.  Do it with them, help them nurture that spark.

As it may just be that spark,  that ‘thing’ they love that provides them with the self esteem and confidence to overcome their weaknesses.