how do I tell my child they are dyslexic

[jessica]

We have a 7 year old who has just been diagnosed as having moderate dyslexia, we strongly believe she should be made aware, but how should we approach this, thanks.

[Cowardlylion]

Hello, I also have a 7 year old daughter with a form of Dyslexia. It was her brother, my eldest who was diagnosed in May of this year.

I told my son, he was 9 at the time that he was very smart, that he was not stupid( he had told me he was) and that he used a different part of his brain to read, compared to many other kids. I told him that this made him special and great. I also told him that he had many talents that other kids did not, and that he would need to learn to read and do math in a different way- using more of his senses.
Give your child a lot of love and support, get them into activities that they excell in, and they will do well.

Current thinking of Dyslexia is not correct, it is not a disease, it is not a disorder. It is not a disability, although that is what it is called. Your child will most likely be gifted in many areas, and you need to encourage that.

There is a exhaustive list of famous Dyslexics-- you can look them up online and show your child all these amazing and brilliant people-- and say-- you have special gifts too.
If you read up more about Dyslexia-- for example Thomas West-- is a prolific author and documentary film maker. He has been talking of Dyslexia as a gift not a disability for decades now. I believe he is ahead of his time in terms of how Dyslexia is and should be viewed. Several of his films can be viewed online--read what you can and you will be encouraged by it. Dyslexics are very gifted, despite having struggles in rote, mundane tasks that make up most of our the early years of schooling.
Your child has a gift-- in the end-- this will be a good thing.

Be well.