Empowering Dyslexic Readers: A Different Approach for Parents

Dyslexia runs in families, so I always knew there was a good chance my girls would face similar challenges with reading and spelling. And let’s be honest - no parent wants their child to struggle. But knowing what might lie ahead gave me a head start. I’d walked that path myself, and I was ready to support them however I could.

One big positive is that schools today put a lot more emphasis on phonics. That made a huge difference in the early stages - both my girls picked up the basics of reading and spelling fairly well. But then came the wall. Suddenly, words weren’t phonetic anymore. The letter-sound combinations got more complicated, and the pictures in books weren’t enough to help them guess unfamiliar words. While their classmates kept progressing, my girls slowed down. Reading became effortful. Their speed dropped. They started guessing words or saying what made sense, but those inaccuracies began to affect their understanding. And slowly, they lost interest. It was just too hard.

So we needed a new approach.

Both of my girls loved books- they just didn’t love reading them. So I kept reading to them. I knew that listening to stories would still build their vocabulary and comprehension. When they did read, we chose picture books below their reading level, often ones I had read many times before to them. That might sound counterintuitive, but it helped protect their self-esteem and gave them a chance to practise fluency without constantly tripping over tricky words.

As they got older, I started ordering dyslexia-friendly books from Barrington Stoke. The content was age-appropriate, but the layout and language were designed for struggling readers. I also subscribed to Calibre, which offers free audiobooks for dyslexic learners. These tools helped- but even with all that in place, both eventually stopped reading for pleasure.

My youngest still can’t understand how I love books so much. But my love of reading came later in life, and I remind her of that. Everyone finds their way in their own time. I recently had a lucky breakthrough with my youngest - music. She became obsessed with learning the lyrics to her favourite songs. She reads them as they play on her phone, line by line. It’s not traditional reading, but it’s reading nonetheless. And it’s a win.

Reading doesn’t always look like sitting down with a novel. It can be lyrics, recipes, instructions, subtitles - anything that builds confidence and keeps the brain engaged.

You just have to be patient. They’ll get there, just like I did. In their own way, at their own pace.

Tools That Made a Difference

Here are some of the resources that helped us stay engaged with reading and

learning—even when it felt like a battle:

Barrington Stoke – Dyslexia-friendly books with age-appropriate content and accessible layouts. Great for building fluency and confidence.

Calibre Audio – Free audiobooks for dyslexic learners, including school texts and popular fiction. A brilliant way to keep stories alive, build vocabulary knowledge and confidence without the pressure of decoding.

Local Library – A treasure trove of graphic novels, audiobooks, and Quick Reads. Letting kids choose their own books helps build autonomy and interest.

BorrowBox App – Once registered with a participating local library, users can access free eBooks and audiobooks. Includes several accessibility features that support visual comfort and flexible reading.