With self-discipline, most anything is possible. ~Theodore Roosevelt

In my last post, I talked about helping your children establish goals at the beginning of the new year.

To follow the steps that will lead to the accomplishment of those goals, children must practice self-discipline.

Parents of dyslexic children face unique challenges in teaching them the basics of self-discipline and staying on task. It’s difficult; after all, children with learning differences like dyslexia need more help than their neurotypical peers when it comes to managing attention and understanding complex concepts.

It is important to remember that every child is different and what works for one may not work for another. Despite that, there are some common steps you can take to get your dyslexic child to develop their self-discipline skills.

Here are 5 ways:

1. Modeling: Most children learn best by watching the adults around them. When it comes to teaching your dyslexic child self-discipline and staying focused, the best approach is often to model the behavior that you want to see. This means showing your child how you dedicate yourself to completing one task at a time, instead of trying to juggle multiple projects or constantly falling victim to procrastination.
2. Consistency: It is important for children to have routines. This is especially true for children with special needs like dyslexia. Make sure that you clearly communicate expectations to your child and that you enforce these regularly and consistently.
3. Positive reinforcement: Praise your child for working hard even in difficult situations, as this will help build up his or her persistence and resilience over time! Encourage them when they do well while providing constructive feedback if they struggle—reminding them that everyone has challenges, but with effort and persistence, they can grow stronger every day.
4. Set attainable goals: Help your child set goals they can achieve. That way, your child can succeed little by little! It is helpful for dyslexic children to set short-term goals rather than long-term ones. This means making small targets that can be achieved. When children have something to work towards, they can build on their successes and see progress. In addition, it is easier to prioritize tasks when they are broken down into smaller parts. This way, your child can stay focused and motivated. With every success, they will gain more self-discipline.
5. Provide structure & support: Make sure you support your dyslexic child throughout the process of learning how to stay focused, organized, and accountable. Take an active role in helping him/her track progress while also respecting his/her autonomy along the way!

Ultimately, teaching self-discipline is just part of parenting a dyslexic child—an essential part!

The good news is that teaching self-discipline is not impossible. By showing them empathy, patience, and consistency, you can help your children develop a lifetime of discipline skills that will serve them well both now and into adulthood.