Education / 1 October, 2026 / My Baba

How To Support A Dyslexic Child: Practical Advice For Parents and Teachers

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month – an opportunity to better understand how dyslexia can affect children at school, how parents and teachers can help them feel confident in their learning, and, most importantly, recognise and empower their brilliant Dyslexic Thinking.

Kate Griggs, founder of Made By Dyslexia, has spent years helping to change the way the world understands dyslexia. This October, she is taking that message even further as Made By Dyslexia brings its short film, What is dyslexia?, to 100 million screens worldwide. New research from the charity reveals nearly 9 in 10 people (87%) say dyslexia comes with strengths. Yet almost 3 in 4 (74%) say their school’s understanding of dyslexic strengths is poor or non-existent, with the same proportion saying schools do not understand the importance of nurturing these to build self-esteem.

Here, Kate shares her practical advice for parents and teachers:

Around one in five people are dyslexic, so for many families, dyslexia will be part of their child’s school journey. Yet knowing how best to support a child can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s easy to focus on challenges and helping them catch up and not give equal emphasis to strengths.

Our film aims to give children and the adults around them a more balanced understanding of dyslexia – one that recognises the challenges while also celebrating the brilliance of Dyslexic Thinking.

Spot their strengths

If you’re a parent of a dyslexic child, the most transformative thing you can do is help them spot their dyslexic strengths, instead of being defined by their challenges. Focusing on things they are naturally good at leads dyslexic thinkers into jobs they love and lives that are fulfilling.

Dyslexics excel in subjects they love because they tap into Dyslexic Thinking skills (like Creativity, Exploring, and Questioning), but they may struggle with skills peers find easy. Often, there is a mismatch between what they are capable of and their written work. On paper they might struggle to organise ideas, but when asked to verbalise their thoughts, they blow you away with the complexity of their ideas.

Build their self-esteem

Focusing on what we’re good at is key to building self-esteem. Dyslexic Thinking skills are needed in all workplaces now, so every dyslexic child should be encouraged to be proud of how they think. When children find things challenging that friends find easy, they can lose heart and mistakenly believe they are less intelligent. Dyslexics are incredibly unique and should be proud of their dyslexia.

Support them with positive praise

Positive praise is vital for dyslexic children. Even if certain things are challenging, every small win should be celebrated. It’s vital to acknowledge what dyslexic kids are good at so they can experience the success they deserve.

Empower them

Once you understand that dyslexia isn’t a weakness, you can help your child identify their Dyslexic Thinking skills, explore what they are passionate about and encourage them to do lots of it! This builds self-esteem and helps them find careers where they will be successful. When dyslexic children are empowered, they are truly unstoppable.

Trust your gut

You know your child better than anyone, so trust your gut when asking for help. Identifying dyslexia is life-changing because it explains both struggles and strengths – 4 out of 5 dyslexics say knowing helped them develop the perseverance needed to succeed. Don’t give up in seeking an assessment.

Changing the story on dyslexia

Supporting a dyslexic child isn’t about pretending that dyslexia doesn’t make some things harder. Nor is it about defining a child by their difficulties.

It’s about helping them understand how they think and learn, giving them appropriate support and making sure they have opportunities to discover their strengths.

That’s the message behind our What is dyslexia? film, which will be shared on 100 million screens this October. Featuring Jeremy Irons, Liv Tyler and other dyslexic voices, the film aims to give children a more balanced and empowering understanding of dyslexia.

For parents, changing the story can start at home: understand the challenges, recognise the strengths and make sure your child knows that dyslexia is a brilliant and different way of thinking.

We’re asking everyone, wherever they are across the world, to host a screening or watch party in their school or community – or simply watch and share the film on their socials. Schools can also use Made By Dyslexia’s free Education Guide and take the training to earn their school’s badge.

Find out more about how you can support our 100 million screens campaign and watch What is Dyslexia? at whatisdyslexia.org.

Is Your Tween Ready For Their First Skincare Routine? Meet FUNNY SKIN

Parental Control, Ep 144: Katharine Radice On How Many Clubs Should Your Child Actually Be Doing?