In an ideal world, your child would never encounter any negative experiences as a result of their dyslexia, however, this is rare in the real world. At Aim Forward, we have assessed many neurodivergent students who have been exposed to damaging comments from teachers and peers that have​ significantly​ knocked their confidence and self-esteem.

So what can you do as a parent? How can you counter any negative self-talk your child may be developing due to their dyslexia?

We spoke with parents and tutors of neurodivergent to find out their top tips for building your child’s self esteem.

 Be the person who believes in them

You will be your child’s biggest champion and a huge source of encouragement for them. When faced with negativity, be the person who offers a different perspective that focuses on what they excel at. That could be their creativity, curiosity, intuition, imagination, storytelling, empathy or anything else that makes them unique.

 Make your home a place to help them recover from the day

Along with the physical and educational demands of your child’s day, a lot of mental energy is expended at school. This might be spent navigating friendships and relationships, and trying to figure out their evolving identity. Neurodivergent children experience the added labour of high     concentration levels. It can be draining to understand what the teacher is asking them to do and try to meet their expectations. Recognising this and providing a safe space at home to recover from their day, will help them to recharge.

 Help your child to develop an understanding of how they think and learn

Supporting your child in learning more about how they work as an individual can help them build their sense of self. Some children will need more help than others. Some simple steps you can take to support them include:

• Model your own thinking out loud – talk through how you are problem-solving, making decisions, and  questioning yourself​.​
• Make time for reflection – encourage your child to think about what has worked and not worked for them in their learning, and what strategies they could adopt​.​
• Support them in applying these strategies – if they have talked about trying a particular idea or strategy to help them learn, follow this up with them and review it together.

There are lots of excellent resources on metacognition (the process of thinking about your own thinking and learning) that you can use with your child to help them understand more about their dyslexia and  why they think and learn the way they do.

 Teach your child about how the brain works

Ability and intelligence aren’t fixed. The brain changes and grows in response to new stimul​i​. These facts can help your child embrace their mistakes and take on new challenges ​they may have feared before. Help them to develop a growth mindset by teaching them some of the basic science behind the brain.

There are lots of excellent resources on ‘neuroplasticity’ (the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new networks throughout life) that you can use with your child to help them change their perceptions of their own abilities. You might find this TED talk from Carol Dweck on developing a growth mindset eye-opening.

 Make dyslexia their superpower

To be a superhero you need the following:

• An exceptional power that other people don’t have
• To use that exceptional power to accomplish things other people can’t

Your child’s dyslexia is an exceptional power. Their experience will be unique to them, but there are many neurodivergent traits which are difficult to replicate and automate. These include:

• problem-solving
• creativity
• flexible thinking
• spotting complex patterns

These traits may give your child an edge in many different careers and aspects of their life. This is especially relevant as we move towards a more automated world. You can help your child recognise this and work out what they want to accomplish with these unique skills.

• Where is it going to take them in life?
• What do they want to achieve?

Help them to think beyond their reading and writing, grades, exam marks, and coursework. Encourage them to take on the world with their superpower!

How Aim Forward can help

At Aim Forward, we specialise in helping individuals who are neurodiverse, or have a physical or mental health condition. We provide diagnostic assessments, needs assessments and coaching to help individuals thrive in their study, work and everday lives.

If you have a dyslexic child, or you would like to learn more about our assessments and support, get in touch with the team today.

We are also offering a free webinar to help empower neurodivergent students through their exams and how parents can help. If you’ve got a child going through their GCSEs, AS or A Levels, sign up below!