What grandparent doesn’t want the very best for their grandchild? For most of us, providing ‘best’ isn’t difficult. It’s often simply a matter of showing up, with love, to the likes of Saturday sports games, school performances, special family occasions, and being there to listen. However, for those of us who have a grandchild who has a different learning style, doing our best may mean educating ourselves about what more they need and how we can help supply it. This is the case for grandparents who have a grandchild with a diagnosis of dyslexia.
‘Neurotypical’ is a word we’re hearing a lot lately, and for good reason. For too long, society has ignored or neglected the needs of those whose brains are wired differently, and who therefore think in unique ways. We’re talking about individuals who are not ‘neurotypical,’ – a group that encompasses those with ADHD, dyspraxia (movement-skill difficulties), dyscalculia (number-related concept difficulties), and dyslexia, (to name just a few examples). Now, we’re all learning to regard a diagnosis of learning difficulties, not as a disadvantage, but as empowering.
In terms of how we can help a child with dyslexia, it’s important to understand their unique way of thinking can affect not just reading skills, but also their short-term memory, planning, organisational, and listening skills, and their concentration. Once we have this under our belt, we’re on our way to doing our best for our grandchild, and this is what ‘best’ can look like:
Supporting education
Keep your ear to the ground and find out what your grandchild is studying at school, then enrich their learning with visual material. For example, if you know they are studying dinosaurs at school, check out child-friendly, age-appropriate YouTube videos about dinosaurs you can enjoy watching together when they come to visit. Timetable a trip to the museum with your grandchild to look at dinosaur exhibitions, visit a local tuatara sanctuary, buy some modelling clay or whip up a batch of cookie dough so you can make-and-bake dinosaur models or edible shapes together. Dinosaur finger puppets can be a fun way to encourage talk about dinosaurs and what your grandchild knows about them. Dinosaur colouring books and crayons can support their learning, too.
Book time
Take time out to read to a dyslexic grandchild. It will help them enjoy books without the pressure of having to read for themself. Look online or at the library for audio books they can listen to when they are staying with you. Take them to library session where adults are reading aloud to children.
Communication
When communicating with a grandchild who isn’t with you, choose a phone call rather than a text. Or use an app such as WhatsApp or Messenger where you can leave a voice message. When you’re together with your grandchild, keep instructions succinct. If you think they are having difficulty following an instruction, ask them if they can visualise what it is you are asking of them. When you’re carrying out an activity together, try to convert any written instructions into pictures. For example, if you’re baking, draw the required ingredients – such as a bag of flour followed by three cups. This will help your grandchild experience independence rather than having to ask you to read the instructions aloud to them.
Technology time
If you’re digitally-minded, take time to research apps which can assist your grandchild (for example, apps that help turn speech into text). You might also have the means to help your grandchild’s parents purchase an app that would be helpful.
Educate
Don’t be shy about talking to other grandparents about dyslexia, and what you are doing to help your grandchild. The more we talk about neurodiverse children, the more they and their needs will be accepted, and their special gifts appreciated.
Volunteer
Check out your local Dyslexia Foundation to find out if there are ways you can help out.
Being ‘best’ for a grandchild sometimes means doing things a little differently!