How to Help a Child with Dyslexia or Other Learning Differences Learn in Their Own Way

Understanding What It Means to Learn Differently

If you're parenting a child diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or any type of learning difference, you probably know by now that the traditional school system isn’t always designed for kids like yours. Sitting still, copying notes off the board, memorizing facts for tests—these methods often fall short for DYS children, leaving them feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and even defeated.

As a parent, it's heartbreaking to watch. You see how bright your child is, how curious, how imaginative. But you also see their shoulders slump when homework starts, their tears after yet another difficult school day. You're not imagining it, and you're not alone.

Helping Your Child Embrace How They Learn Best

The key shift many families make is moving from “how can I force school to work for my child?” to “how can I make learning work for my child?” This mindset unlocks a world of alternative approaches, many of which can dramatically improve both your child’s confidence and academic engagement.

Let me tell you about Camille, a spirited 9-year-old with dyslexia who adored animals and storytelling but hated reading. Her mother told me, "She shuts down the second a textbook is in front of her, but she can tell you everything about Arctic foxes and where they live." Together, they started experimenting. Instead of reading the page-long science paragraph aloud, Camille's mom recorded it while adding fun animal sounds and background effects. Camille listened to it three times in the car that week. When Friday’s quiz came around, she aced it.

Children with learning differences often need multi-sensory, personalized, and story-based learning. That’s not cheating, that’s adapting — the very thing they need most.

Tools That Support Different Pathways of Learning

If your child struggles with decoding written text, ask yourself: can their learning come through the ears instead of the eyes? Instead of insisting your child read the history paragraph themselves, try reading it aloud while they draw what they understand. Or let them explain it back to you verbally.

Many parents are discovering that audiobooks, voice-to-text tools, and even educational podcasts can make a big impact. One mom shared with me that her 11-year-old son, who had severe dysgraphia, began retaining his geography lessons when they turned them into simple recorded conversations.

Some apps go even further. For example, with the Skuli App, you can snap a photo of your child's lesson and transform it into an audio adventure—complete with your child's name as the hero of the journey. Suddenly that dry paragraph on volcanoes becomes an epic quest across molten lava. For kids who learn better through listening and personalized engagement, this kind of experience is a game-changer.

Putting Confidence First

One of the biggest challenges for kids with learning differences isn’t the learning itself—it’s the blow to their self-esteem. After falling behind or being labeled as “lazy” or “distracted,” many children internalize the idea that they’re not smart. That belief alone can shut down learning more powerfully than any textbook ever could.

Your role, as exhausting and emotionally taxing as it can be, is to help rebuild that confidence. Not by fixing everything—but by showing your child they’re not broken. This might mean:

• Celebrating effort over results ("You worked hard on that!" instead of "You got it right!")
• Finding their strengths outside academics—art, music, nature, sports
• Allowing more breaks and movement during homework
• Creating a calm, supportive environment that values who they are, not just what they produce

If you haven’t already, consider creating a more positive learning environment at home. That could mean setting aside a cozy reading nook, switching to shorter bursts of work, or letting them choose the order in which they tackle homework.

Redefining What Success Looks Like

There’s no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to education—especially not for DYS kids. What if success wasn’t about catching up to the rest of the class, but about feeling proud of one’s progress? What if Wednesday’s small win—remembering your spelling words after acting them out—wasn’t just “good enough,” but exactly what your child needed?

Every child has a unique brain, and those who learn differently often grow up to be some of the most creative thinkers in the world—entrepreneurs, artists, inventors, leaders. Nurture that spark now, and you’re not just helping them survive school—you’re enabling them to thrive in life.

Next Steps: Gentle Progress Beats Rushed Perfection

Give yourself permission to try, tweak, and explore. Use tools that match your child’s learning style, whether that’s turning lessons into listening material during car rides or reviewing topics by turning a photo of the page into a quiz they can take as a game.

And if it helps to know: thousands of parents are out there doing this same dance—figuring out what works, celebrating wins, getting through the hard days, and seeking ideas for fun ways to help their child remember lessons.

You’re not failing your child. You’re showing them that every brain deserves to be seen, understood, and supported. And that’s the most powerful education any child can receive.

For more ideas on blending learning with personalized technology, this article on how interactive learning tools are transforming education for kids is a great place to start.