Help a dyslexic child show when they need help, check they’ve understood instructions, and get their ideas down on paper. 3 short activities, 10 minutes each, over 1 week.
At a glance
- Time: 3 activities, 10 minutes each, over 1 week
- You need: red and green pens or crayons, scissors, a quiet spot, and the 3 free worksheets below
- Mooki cards: Traffic Light System, Hear Instructions, Thought Tree (optional)
- By the end: the child can show you when they need help, say instructions back, and map out their ideas
Why are instructions so hard?
A dyslexic child may not finish a task because the instructions are hard to follow. Spoken instructions, long words, big chunks of information, no pictures and not being able to ask questions can all get in the way.
Dyslexic children learn best with multi-sensory learning, using sight, hearing, touch and more.
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Before you start
- Print the worksheets. Or the child can draw their own on plain paper.
- One a day. Do each activity on a different day so the child doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
- Quiet and calm. Do them together, in a quiet place with no distractions.
- Keep it short. One small instruction or idea at a time is plenty.
Day 1: Do you need help?
Gives the child an easy way to show they are stuck. Uses the Traffic Light System card.
- Ask the child to colour the top circle red and the bottom circle green.
- Explain: “Red means I need help. Green means I understand.”
- Cut out the card and keep it on the table. Ask the child to point to a colour during Day 2 and Day 3.
Tip: if the child points to red, don’t repeat the same words. Try a picture or show them instead.
Day 2: Have you understood?
Helps the child show they have heard and understood an instruction. Uses the Hear Instructions card.
- Listen. Give one short instruction, for example “Put your shoes by the door”. Write it in box 1.
- Say it back. Ask the child to say it back in their own words before they start. Tick the speech bubble.
- Do it! The child does the task, then colours the star. Try up to 4 instructions.
Tip: keep asking the child to say instructions back. It soon becomes a habit.
Day 3: What are your ideas?
Helps the child get their ideas down on paper quickly and easily. Uses the Thought Tree card.
- Pick a topic the child is learning at school, or something they enjoy. Write or draw it on the trunk.
- Add one idea in each leaf, using a word or a small drawing.
- Ask “Do you understand?” The child points to red or green at the bottom of the sheet.
Tip: try making a Thought Tree with stickers, photos and drawings too.
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After the week: ask yourself
- Can the child use red and green to show if they need help?
- Could the child say instructions back to you?
- Did the Thought Tree help the child get their ideas down on paper?
Get all 3 activities, plus 53 more
The Traffic Light System, Hear Instructions and Thought Tree cards give you ready-made steps on the front and a picture activity for your child on the back. Everything is in one place. Each is one of 56 ten-minute activities in the Mooki Cards deck.
Instant download · use on a phone or tablet, or print and fill in