Dyslexia and Attention Struggles: How to Truly Engage a Child Aged 6 to 12

Understanding the Child Behind the Struggles

When your child has difficulty focusing or faces the challenges of dyslexia, every homework session can feel like a battlefield. You’re not alone in feeling frustrated, helpless, or even guilty. You care deeply and want nothing more than for your child to feel confident, capable, and happy in their learning. But no strategy seems to stick, and what works one day may not work the next.

So how do you keep a child engaged when their mind is racing or the written word becomes an obstacle? First, it helps to start with empathy—not just for your child, but for yourself. Then, from that place of understanding, gently adjust your expectations and approach.

More Than Just Attention and Reading Issues

Dyslexia and attention difficulties often overlap, and they are both rooted in complex neurological wiring—not laziness or lack of motivation. Children who struggle with either (or both) often put in far more effort than their peers just to stay “on task.”

In fact, many children with dyslexia also display signs of attention variability. Their minds aren’t blank—they’re busy. They’re processing information in unique ways, often rich in imagination or emotional sensitivity. But traditional educational formats aren't always designed with these strengths in mind. That mismatch can lead to disengagement, anxiety, and a growing dislike for learning.

Creating Engagement Through Connection

If your child zones out or avoids homework, the first step isn’t always to “try harder”—it’s to reconnect. Instead of starting with expectations, begin by asking questions like:

• “What feels hard about this for you?”
• “Is there a different way we could try this?”
• “What helps you feel calm or focused?”

When they feel seen and heard, children are more likely to engage. Even better, this builds emotional safety, which is essential for learning.

Leaning Into Their Strengths

One powerful shift is to identify and lean into what your child enjoys. A child with reading difficulties might still love stories—or at least, they might if stories weren’t always tied to moments of frustration. That’s why oral storytelling, audiobooks, and visual learning tools can be transformative.

Research shows that oral storytelling supports language development, especially for kids with dyslexia. Hearing language helps build vocabulary, narrative structure understanding, and auditory memory—without the pressure of decoding text. In fact, some children discover the joy of reading by first falling in love with stories they hear.

Apps like LISN Kids—available on iOS and Android—offer a thoughtful curation of original audiobooks and audio series designed for children aged 3 to 12. With rich narratives and age-appropriate content, they give children the chance to dive into stories without the stress of decoding. For many families, these listening sessions become part of an evening routine or screen-free quiet time, helping reinforce imagination, attention span and language love in one calm swoop.

Rethinking What Success Looks Like

For a child who feels like they’re “always behind,” success can feel out of reach. And when children disconnect from learning, it’s often because they feel that success—even effort—is pointless.

Instead of focusing on correctness or speed, highlight:

• Curiosity (“That’s an interesting question you just asked!”)
• Persistence (“You really stuck with that even though it was hard.”)
• Creative thinking (“I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”)

These moments tell your child that their brain is not broken—it’s brilliant, just different. And reinforcing these qualities builds the long-term resilience they’ll need.

When to Ask for Help

If your child’s attention difficulties or dyslexia-related stress become unmanageable, don’t hesitate to consult professionals. A psychoeducational assessment can clarify whether your child has a learning difference and offer targeted intervention strategies. Understanding the different types of dyslexia can also help you adapt your support meaningfully.

In the meantime, reading together in ways that feel safe and creative can help. You might be surprised how powerful it is to read differently with a dyslexic child—through shared reading, using graphic novels, or even acting out stories together.

Small Shifts, Big Impact

Captivating a child with dyslexia or attention difficulties doesn’t have to mean reinventing your whole routine. Often, it’s about creating moments of wonder—through audio stories, hands-on activities, humor, or even cozy conversations at bedtime. In those small, repeated gestures, you’re not just supporting learning. You’re building trust—and maybe even bringing back a little joy to the learning process, for both of you.

Looking for more ideas on how to help your child love books even if reading is tough? This reflection may inspire you.