Dear Sue,
We’re the parents of a bright, creative, and hardworking 10-year-old girl who was diagnosed with dyslexia about 18 months ago. Since then, we’ve been trying everything we can to support her, but we’ve hit a bit of a wall.
At first, she was determined to improve her reading, but over the past year, her motivation has taken a serious hit. She’s started to avoid reading altogether, gets very upset when the topic comes up, and even becomes angry when asked to practice. It’s heartbreaking to see, especially because we know how capable she is.
Here’s where we’re at:
- Her school has a dyslexia support program, but honestly, it feels generic and outdated.
- She’s been seeing an outside specialist weekly, and while there’s progress, it’s very slow.
- The biggest challenge right now is emotional: she’s starting to believe she’s “bad at school” and constantly compares herself to her classmates. Some peers have even made hurtful comments, and she’s internalizing the idea that she’s just not good enough.
We’re trying so hard to keep things positive at home, but we can see how much it weighs on her. We don’t want her to grow up seeing dyslexia as something “wrong” with her.
So here are our questions:
- How can we help her stay motivated and hopeful?
- What works when the reading feels like a mountain?
- How do other families keep things light, encouraging, and empowering — especially when progress feels slow?
If you (or your readers) have any advice, stories, or resources, we would be deeply grateful. We’re just two parents trying to lift our girl up — we know she’s amazing. We just want her to believe it, too.
Warmly,
David & Debby
Dear David and Debby
First, let me say this: the love you have for your daughter is so clear — and powerful. She is lucky to have you in her corner, fighting for her confidence, her joy, and her future.
Everything you’re describing — the discouragement, the anger, the tears, the slow progress — is something I’ve heard before from many families. And every time, it breaks my heart a little. But here’s the good news: you are not alone, and your daughter’s story is far from over. In fact, she’s just getting started.
At Edublox, we’ve worked with thousands of children like your daughter — bright, capable, and deeply frustrated. One of the hardest things about dyslexia is not just the reading — it’s what it does to a child’s belief in themselves. That inner voice that says, “Maybe I’m just not good enough.”
So let me offer a few thoughts and strategies that may help, both practically and emotionally:
1. Reframe the narrative
Children often blame themselves when they struggle — especially when they don’t understand why. So start by helping her reframe dyslexia. It is not a lack of intelligence; it’s merely a sign that the brain pathways related to reading need strengthening. This is so important for children to hear this — again and again.
2. Support her emotionally
This one you’re already doing beautifully. But let me encourage you to keep doing these little things:
- Point out her strengths daily (not just academic).
- Let her have “off” days without guilt.
- Share stories of people who have dyslexia and succeeded (there are many!).
- Use humor, play, and downtime — not everything has to be about school.
3. Choose the right program
You mentioned a school program that feels outdated and clunky. Unfortunately, this is common. Many schools focus on accommodations, and although they are helpful — they remove pressure and give a struggling learner breathing room — they’re not the solution. They don’t fix the underlying difficulties. Other programs focus on symptoms (such as phonics) without addressing underlying cognitive skills, such as visual processing, attention, and memory.
This is where Edublox takes a very different approach. Our programs don’t just “teach around” dyslexia — we work on the root causes, helping children strengthen the brain skills needed for reading, writing, and learning. It’s not a quick fix, but it works — and we have thousands of success stories to prove it.
4. Create small wins — fast
When motivation is low, children need early, visible progress. At Edublox, we break down learning into small, achievable steps. After just a few weeks, most children already feel the difference:
- They can remember more.
- They read with more ease.
- They start to believe in themselves again.
This shift — from “I can’t” to “Hey, maybe I can” — is where the real magic begins.
Final thought
You said it perfectly: she’s brilliant, committed, and hardworking. That’s her core. Dyslexia doesn’t change that — it just means she needs a different path to unlock her potential. With the right tools and support, she will get there. And she’ll do so knowing that she was never alone — because she had parents who believed in her every step of the way.
If you ever want to chat more about Edublox or how we work with children like your daughter, feel free to reach out. We’re here to walk that journey with you.
Warm wishes,
Sue
More about Sue
Sue is an educational specialist in learning difficulties with a B.A. Honors in Psychology and a B.D. degree. Early in her career, Sue was instrumental in training over 3,000 teachers and tutors, providing them with the foundational and practical understanding to facilitate cognitive development among children who struggle to read and write. With over 30 years of research to her name, she conceptualized the Edublox teaching and learning methods that have helped thousands of children worldwide. In 2007, she opened the first Edublox reading and learning clinic; today, there are 30 clinics internationally. Sue treasures the “hero” stories of students whose self-esteem soars as their marks improve.
