Many parents worry about losing progress over the summer, but children with dyslexia need rest just as much as everyone else. Small amounts of meaningful practice can help make September feel less daunting.
Let them rest first
If your child has worked hard all year, a week or two without formal learning is unlikely to undo progress. Many children return to learning more successfully after they have recharged.
Reading comes in many forms
Football magazines, comics, recipes, menus, maps, subtitles and game instructions all count. If your child loves a topic, use that interest as the route into reading. This fits with the broader reading for pleasure evidence: enjoyment and choice matter.
Audiobooks are not cheating
Audiobooks develop vocabulary, comprehension, story structure, general knowledge and listening skills. They also let children access books beyond their current reading level. Library apps such as BorrowBox can be a low-pressure way to try them.
Keep writing real
Postcards, shopping lists, text messages, holiday diaries and restaurant reviews are more meaningful than worksheets. For reluctant writers, typing can help them get ideas down.
Play games
Scrabble, Boggle, Bananagrams, Articulate, word searches and guessing games build vocabulary, reasoning, memory and language without feeling like schoolwork.
Build confidence
Sport, art, drama, music, coding, Lego, problem solving and storytelling all remind children what they are good at. Confidence is essential, not a bonus.
A small, honest plan
If you want structure, choose one reading activity, one real-life writing activity and one confidence-building activity each week. Keep sessions short enough that your child can finish with some energy left.