8 Tips For Talking To Your Child About Dyslexia

Finding out your child has dyslexia can feel overwhelming at first for both you and your child. But the way you talk about dyslexia can shape how your child sees themselves, their strengths, and their future. Here are eight tips to help guide that conversation:

1. Explain what dyslexia means in simple terms.

Let your child know that dyslexia is just a word that describes how their brain works. Their brain processes letters and sounds differently, which can make reading and spelling harder, but it also makes them strong in other areas, like seeing patterns, big-picture thinking, and problem solving.

2. Reassure them that they are smart.

Dyslexia is not about intelligence. In fact, many people with dyslexia have average to above-average IQs. A dyslexic brain is simply a different kind of smart, one that brings unique talents alongside challenges.

3. Highlight their strengths.

Remind your child that dyslexia comes with advantages. Many students with dyslexia have excellent comprehension, creative thinking, and the ability to see solutions others might miss. Their learning style makes them unique, not less.

4. Share examples of successful people with dyslexia.

From entrepreneurs to artists to scientists, countless highly successful people are dyslexic. Sharing these stories helps your child see that dyslexia is not a barrier to success; it’s a different pathway to it.

5. Emphasize that they will learn to read.

School may feel hard right now, but with the right kind of instruction and support, your child will learn to read, write, and spell. Dyslexia changes how they learn, not whether they can learn.

6. Normalize using the word “dyslexia.”

Don’t treat the diagnosis as a secret. Children are often relieved to learn there’s a reason for their struggles, and that it’s not because they’re “stupid” or “lazy.” Talking openly about dyslexia helps them build confidence and learn to advocate for themselves.

7. Use analogies to make it concrete.

Sometimes metaphors help children understand dyslexia better. For example:

• Some people are PCs and some are Macs — both are powerful, but they work differently.

• Dyslexia is like being left-handed — it’s not wrong, just different.

8. Remind them they are loved.

Above all else, your child needs to know they are deeply loved, supported, and believed in. Dyslexia is only one part of who they are, and it doesn’t define their worth or their potential.

The Bottom Line

How you talk to your child about dyslexia matters. When the conversation centers on strengths, resilience, and acceptance, your child begins to see dyslexia as a part of their identity, not a limitation.

If your child’s diagnosis is new and you’re not sure what steps to take next, check out our blog: What To Do After A Dyslexia Diagnosis

And if you’d like to learn more about what dyslexia really looks like across ages and how to provide the right support, check out our on-demand training:

👉 What Dyslexia Really Looks Like: From Identification to Intervention